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THE 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 



IVIASSACHUSE-n-S, 



FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT, IN 1640, 



TO THE "S-E.A-1^ I860, 



BY GEORGE WINGATE CHASE, 

Member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society ; Cor. Mem. of the 'Wisconsin Historical 
Society ; Author of a Digest of Masonic Law, &c. 



Home of my fathers ' * * * * 
O never may a son of thine, — 
Where'er his wandering steps incline, — 
Forget the sky that bent above 
His boyhood, like a dream of love. 

— Whittiee. 



HAVERHILL : 
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOE. 

1861 



f1% 



>^5 



C^ 



Entebed according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by 

GEORGE WINGATE CHASE, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. 



STONE 4 HUSE, 

BOOK PRINTERS, 

21 Central St., Lowell, Mass. 



I'REF^CE. 



The earnest and frequent demand for a new History of Haverhill^ 
induced the compiler of tlie following pages to enter upon the task of its 
preparation, and in February, (12th) 1859, public notice to that effect 
was given through the columns of the local press. The original design was 
to include the history of the town from its first settlement, in 1640, to 
January, 1860, in one octavo volume, of about five hundred pages; but 
twelve months of almost constant application to the work, revealed such 
a mass of valuable and interesting material, that a proposition was made 
to the town, at its annual March meeting, in 1860 — 

" To see if the town will make an appropriation toward the publication 
of a History of the town, and if so, how much, as requested by Geo. W. 
Chase." 

The proposition met with a most hearty approval, as may be seen from 
the following extract from the town records : — 

" It was unanimously voted, That the sum of five hundred dollars be 
appropriated and paid to Geo. W. Chase toward a publication of a History 
of this town, said money to be paid at times and in sums at -the discretion of 
the selectmen ; — provided, that not more than one hundred dollars shall 
be paid until five hundred pages of the proposed History is prWted ; and 
'provided also, that the -price of the book, in good substantial binding, 
shall not exceed two dollars per copy." 

Encouraged by this generous aid, given, as it was, with entire unanimity, 
the work was pushed forward with all possible despatch ; and, early in the 
following December, the first pages went to press. Various causes have 



rendered the work of printing much more protracted than was eipected^ 
or could have been foreseen, but it is believed that the value of the book 
has been increased rather than diminished, through the corrections and 
numerous additions permitted by the delay. 

In the preparation of this History of his native town, the compiler has 
endeavored to collect his material from the most reliable sources, and, in 
nearly every case where practicable, has recorded the facts in the exact 
language in which they were found, or were received. It has been his 
endeavor that each and every "quotation" introduced may be safely 
relied upon as literally correct, believing that thereby not only will the 
reader's interest in no wise be diminished, but the historical value of 
the work will be greatly increased. 

In many instances, particularly during the earlier years of our history, 
minor incidents and matters are mentioned. This has been done cither to 
illustrate the manners, customs, &c., of the early inhabitants, or for the 
purpose of introducing the names of persons in town, rather than for any 
interest or value in the incidents themselves. The frequent introduction 
of lists of names, has, in many instances, been intended as an aid to those 
particularly interested in genealogy, rather than as items of interest to the 
general reader. 

In a work like the present, where so much dependence is of necessity 
placed upon traditions, — often vague and indistinct, or confused and 
conflicting, — and abounding in names, dates, and figures, it is hardly 
possible to avoid errors. It is hoped and believed, however, that the 
following pages will compare favorably in this respect with other similar 
works ; — more or less than this could not well b6 expected. 

As it was impossible to include within the limits of a single volume all 
that might be classed as local history, or of local interest ; and as the 
general history of the town, for the last half a century, is already 
comparatively well preserved by the local newspapers, as well as by living 
memories ; less space has been devoted to the latter period than might, 
perhaps, be considered as its just proportion. A desire to preserve the 
traditions and incidents fast receding from our sight in the dim twilight 



■of the past, must plead onr excuse, if excuse be necessary, for this seeming 
partiality for matters relating to "ye olden time." 

In the preparation of this work, a large amount of valuable and 
interesting material has been gathered, which could not well be used. 
This will be carefully preserved, and every opportunity to add to the 
stock will be as carefully improved. Its ultimate disposal cannot now be 
indicated with any degree of certainty. 

To name the many who have directly or indirectly aided the compiler 
in his labors, would greatly exceed the space allowed for the present 
purpose. To one and all of them, we would return our hearty 
acknowledgments. We cannot, however, forbear to mention, specially, — ^ 
Hon. James H. Duncan, for his active exertions in securing the above 
mentioned appropriation by the town in our favor, and for his many other 
acts of kindness and liberality ; George Johnson, Esq., of Bradford, for 
his generous donation of fifty dollars for the same purpose; Benjamin 
Bradley, Esq., of Boston, for his proposal to bind one hundred copies of 
the book, gratuitously ; A. W. Thayer, Esq., of Northampton, John 
Bartlett, Esq., of Eoxbury, and Eev. Gr. W. K^lley, of this town, for 
special favors ; and Mr. Alfred Poor, of this town, (who has for several 
years devoted his whole time and attention to genealogy) for much 
valuable assistance. 

With the hope that the book, — to the preparation of which so many 
pleasant hours have been devoted, — will be kindly received, this History 
i^ HaverhiU is now submitted to the public. 

Mount Washington, Haverhill, ) r' w n 

Septmnber 1, 1861. j" tr. W. U 



LIST OE ILLUSTllATIONS. 



TiETV OP Haverhill in 1820 Frontispiece^ 

Map of Haverhill • 16 

Fac-Simile of Indian Deed 46 

Eesidence of Charles Corliss GO 

First Meeting-House 67 

First Plan of the Town 104 

Map of Haverhill and Adjacent Toavns 105 

Second Meeting-House 177 

Plan of Massachusetts Claim vs. N, H 287 

" " New Hampshire Claim vs. Mass 292 

" " Haverhill and Londonderry 290 

Floating Islands 462 

Portrait" of Piev, Henry Plummer 606 

" " Hon. Bailey Bartlett 618 

•' " " Israel Bartlett 620 

** •* " Samuel Blodqett 621 

" " " James H. Duncan 628 

" " Capt. Nehemiah Emerson •. 630 

" " Dr. EuFua Longley 636 

" " David Marsh, Esq., 638 

" ♦' Hon. Leonard White 650 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

CHAPTER I. 
Early Voyages — Discovery of Massachusetts 17 

CHAPTER II. 
History op Puritanism — The Pilgrims 23 

CHAPTER III. 
Settlements in Massachusetts, from 1620 to 1640 27 

CHAPTER IV. 
Aboriginal Inhabitants 30 

CHAPTER V. 
Settlement of Haverhill, 1640 35 

CHAPTER VI. 
Prom 1643 to 1649 55 

CHAPTER VII. 
Erom 1650 to 1659 ." 70 

CHAPTER VIII. 
Erom 1660 to 1669 91 

CHAPTER IX. 
From 1670 to 1675 113 

CHAPTER X. 
Indian Troubles— 1675 to 1678 123 

CHAPTER XL 
Erom 1675 to 1688 130 

CHAPTER XII. 
Indian Troubles — 1688 to 1695 148 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Erom 1695 to 1700 179 

CHAPTER XIV. 
Indian Troubles — 1700 to 1710 204 



Till 

CHAPTER XV. 
From 1710 to 1722 234 

CHAPTER XVI. 
Indian Troubles— 1713 to 1725 ■. 2G0 

CHAPTER XVIL 
From 1720 TO 1728 265 

CHAPTER XVIII. 
The Boundary Difficulties of 1720 to 1759 286 

CHAPTER XIX. 

From 1729 to 1741 302 

CHAPTER XX. 

From 1 742 to 1 765 320 

CHAPTER XXI. 
The French War — 1756 to 1763 340 

CHAPTER XXII. 
The Revolution — 1765 to 1783 362 

CHAPTER XXIII. 
From 1765 to 1790 o • 426 

CHAPTER XXIV. 
From 1790 to 1800 ^^^ 

CHAPTER XXV. 
From 1800 to 1815 ^71 

CHAPTER XXVI. 
From 1815 to 1840 ^^^ 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

From 1840 to 1860 ^^3 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 
Manupacturb of Shoes and Hats — Improvements 532 

CHAPTER XXIX. 
Ecclesiastical History ^*' 

CHAPTER XXX. 
Biography and Genealogy "^^ 

CHAPTER XXXI. 
Miscellaneous 



INTKOIDUOTION. 



The town of Haverhill, Esses County, Massacliusetts, is situated on the 
northerly side of the Merrimack, — the fourth in size, hut perhaj^sthc most 
beautiful river in New England, — about eighteen miles from its mouth. 
The principal village is twenty -nine miles from Boston, twenty-two from 
Salem, fourteen from Xewburyport, eighteen from Lowell, ninfe from 
Lawrence, and thirty from Portsmouth, Is". H. The town is bounded on 
the north by Salem, Atkinson, and Plaistow, N. H. ; on the east by Ames- 
bury ; on the south by the Merrimack river ; and on the west by Methuen. 
The northern line of the town is also the boundary line between the States 
of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The township, as originally pur- 
chased of the Indians, was fourteen miles in length, — six miles from the 
Little Eiver eastward, and eight miles from the same river westward, — 
and six miles in breadth. As first laid out by the General Court, in 1G67, 
it was nearly in the form of a triangle, extending upon the Merrimack 
about fifteen miles from Holt's Eocks westward, the northerly line running 
about the same distance due north-west from the above point, and the 
westerly line running due north and south. As thus laid out, the town 
included a large portion of the territory now forming the townships of 
Salem, Atkinson, Hampstead, and Plaistow, N. H., and Methuen, Mass. 
Since the running of the State line, in 1741, the bounds of the town have 
been the same as at present. 

The township is now about nine miles in length, and three miles in 
breadth, and contains fifteen thousand two hundred acres, divided nearly 
as^follows : acres of land annually tilled, excluding orchards tilled, one 
thousand and eighty-six ; acres of orcharding of all kinds of fruits, three 
hundred and fifty-one; acres of upland mowing, excluding orcharding 
mowed, three thousand two hundred and twenty-six ; acres of orcharding 
mowed, two hundred and eighty-nine ; acres of fresh meadow, five hundred 
and thirteen ; acres of pasture-land, excluding orcharding pastured, six 
thousand one hundred and forty-seven ; acres of meadow, exclusive of 
pasture land inclosed, two thoijsand three hundred and forty-nine ; acres 



of unimproved land, forty-three ; acres of land imimprovaWc, thirteen ; 
acres of land used for roads, five hundred and twenty-eight ; acres of land 
covered with water, one thousand one hundred and seven. 

The soil is, generally, a rich friable loam, easily cultivated, and highly 
productive. But few towns can show so small a number of acres of unim- 
provable land, or of land of decidedly inferior equality. Many of the 
farms arc under a high state of cultivation, and will compare favorably 
with those of any other town in the Commonwealth. In an agricultural 
point of view, but few, if any, towns in the State, surpass this, either in 
regard to its capacity, or the developement of its i-esources. 

Besides the Merrimack, which is included in the town, and which forms 
the entire southern bound of the town, there are three smaller streams, 
viz : Little Eiver, East Meadow Paver, and Creek Brook. Little River, 
so called to distinguish it from the " Great Eiver," has its principal source 
in Plaistow, X. H., enters Haverhill a little east of the Atkinson line, and 
flows nearly south, to the Merrimack, emptying into the latter at the 
principal village, and one-fourth of a mile west of the Haverhill bridge. 
This stream has several tributaries, the principal one of which is known 
as Fishing Eiver, taking its rise from the north-western extremity of 
Kenoza Lake, and flowing at first northerly into Plaistow, then gradually 
bending to the south-west, and entering the Little Eiver about one and a 
half miles from its mouth. There are several mills upon Little river, the 
largest of which is the flannel mill, long known as " Hale's Factory," and 
located on Winter street, about one-fourth of a mile from the mouth of the 
river. Upon the opposite side of the stream at this place, there was, for 
nearly two hundred years, a saw-mill, and the stream was most commonly 
known as " Sawmill Eiver." The last mill of the kind was taken down 
about twenty years since. About midway between this poinfr and the 
Merrimack, and near the small island, there was for many years a grist- 
mill, which also ceased operations about twenty years since. There is 
also a grist-mill on the stream, near the State line, which has been known 
these many years as " Clark's mill." A mill has been constantly located 
at this place for at least one hundred and fifty years. 

Fishing River, — so named on account of the large quantities of ale- 
wives taken from it in former times, — is now used principally to conduct 
the surplus water of Kenoza Lake to the flannel factory, in the dry season. 
This privilege was gi-anted to Mr. Ezekiel Hale, jr., in 1835, who there- 
upon erected a flume at the outlet of the Lake, and deepened the bed of 
the stream, so that about six feet of water can now be easily drawn, as 
occasion may require. There was formerly, and for many years, a corn 



mill upon ttis stream, situated about half a mile from its mouth. The 
first mill of the kind at that place, was erected by William Starlin, who 
subsequently sold it to Thomas Duston, from whom it descended to his 
son, Timothy Duston. 

Jilast Meadoio River takes its rise in Newton, N. H., enters Haverhill 
about three-fourths of a mile east of Brandy Brow Hill, and flows nearly 
due south, to the Merrimack, emptying into the latter at " Cottle's Creek," 
— one mile below the Chain Ferry. There has long been a saw-mill and 
a grist-mill upon this stream, near the Amesbury line, known as "Peas- 
lee's Mills." The first mill at this place was erected by Joseph Peasly, in 
1693, since which time the privilege has been almost, or quite, constantly 
in the possession of his descendants. There was formerly a saw-mill, grist- 
mill, and fulling-mill, about half a mile from the mouth of the stream. 
These were built by Anthony Chase (great-grandfather of the writer) , — 
the first in 1757, and the others a few years later, — and continued in 
operation for many years. There is also a grist-mill about one-fourth of a 
mile from the- Merrimack, — known as "Johnson's mill," — which was 
first built by Thomas Johnson, about 1790, or later. There was formerly 
a fulling-mill about one mile above the mills of Anthony Chase, which 
was erected by his son, John Chase, who carried on the business for many 
years. 

Creeli Brooh, which runs from Creek Pond nearly due south to the 
Merrimack, carries two mills. The first, which is located at the outlet of 
the pond, was long operated as a grist-mill, but has recently been trans- 
formed into a hat factory. The other, — known these many years as 
"Bradley's Mill," — is a grist mill, and is located about fifty rods from 
the Merrimack. 

There are four ponds in the town, three of them situated within a mile 
of the principal village, and within half a mile of each other. 

Plug Pond, — formerly called " Ayer's Pond," from the fact that several 
persons of that name settled near its western end, and owned a large part 
of the adjoining land, — is the smallest of the four, and is situated about 
half a mile from the Merrimack, in a north-easterly direction from the 
village. It covers an area of about seventy acres. At its northern, south- 
ern, and western extremities, particularly the latter, the bottom is mostly 
covered with mud, which will perhaps account for its moderate stock of 
fish, as well as for the greenish and unpleasant appearance of its water 
during the latter part of the summer. At its southern point a dam, or 
" plug," has long existed, through which its surplus water is drawn to 
supply the mills on the brook connecting it with the Merrimack. Upon 



Xll 

this stream, known as " Mill Brook," there is at the present time a plaster- 
mill, a grist-mill, a hark-mill, ami a hat factory, with a variety of other 
machinery attached. Near its mouth is also located a steam saw-mill. 
The first corn-mill in the town was erected upon this* stream, as was also 
the first tannery, and fulling-mill. In its passage from the pond to the 
river, the Avatcr of this brook can be used for mill purposes at least five 
times, though we believe that four times is the most ever yet required 
of it. 

Hound Pond is situated about one mile north of the Haverhill Bridge, 
and about half a mile north-westerly from Plug Pond. It covers an area 
of about eighty acres, and was formerly called "Belknap's Pond," and 
also " Little's Pond," from persons of that name who lived near it. With 
the exception of one small cove at its north-western extremity, the shores 
of this beautiful sheet of water are entirely free from mud, and show its 
bottom to be a clean gravel. There is not a single living stream, large or 
small, seeking outlet into the pond, but it is, with the exception of what 
water may be turned into it from the gently sloping hills surrounding it, 
entirely supplied by subterranean springs. From this pond, by means of 
an acqueduct, the central village is mostly supplied with pure, cold, soft 
water, for domestic purposes. The water in the pond is about one hundred 
and fifty feet above that of the Merrimack, and is well stocked with 
pickerel and perch. The natural outlet to the pond was to the south-west 
into the Little Piver, through which salmon, and other fish, passed up 
into the "pond, in the appropriate season, to deposit their spawn. The 
direction of this outlet was long ago artificially changed, — toward the 
Plug Pond, — so as to secure the surplus water for the mills upon Mill 
Brook. Within a few years, the Acqucduct Company have purchased the 
original mill privilege upon the latter stream, and the above outlet has 
been discontinued. 

Great Pond, or, as it has recently been re-named, "Kenoza Lake," is 
situated about one and a half miles from Haverhill Bridge, in a north- 
easterly direction, and about one-third of a mile east of Bound Pond. It 
covers an area of about three hundred acres, and is the largest sheet of 
water in the town. The water, which in some places is fifty feet in depth, 
is about one hundred and fifty feet above the bed of the Merrimack, and 
abounds with the finest pickerel, — hence the new name, "Kenoza," sig- 
nifying "pickerel." The only outlet from this miniature lake, is the 
Fishing lliver, already mentioned, through which large numbers of salmon 
and alcwivcs formerly passed into the pond. White perch, of the finest 
flavor, once inhabited the waters of this pond, but have now nearly disap- 



XlU 

peared. The woods "bordering the pond were long the retreat of various 
kinds of game, and the favorite hunting ground of sportsmen. The heau- 
tiful point of land near the north-eastern extremity of this pond, has long 
been a popular place of resort for parties of pleasure. Since 1807, the 
inhabitants of the town have, by purchase, enjoyed the unrestricted right 
to occupy the grounds for that purpose. 

Creeh Pond is situated in the West Parish, about three miles north- 
west from the principal village, and covers an area of about two hundred 
and fifty acres. The shores, which are quite irregular, exhibit some really 
beautiful scenery, and there are many fine farms in the neighborhood. 
The waters of the pond are remarkably clear and transparent, and the 
bottom is for the most part even and sandy. The pond has long been a 
favorite resort for those who delight to style themselves disciples of Izaak 
"Walton. The outlet to the pond was formerly one of the most productive 
of our alewive fisheries, and was one of the last that ceased to be 
profitable. 

There are several prominent hills in the town, but none which can be 
dignified with the title of mountains. Among them may be named Golden 
Hill, Silver Hill, Turkey Hill, Brandy Brow Hill, and the Great Hill. 
The hills are all of gentle ascent, and capable of profitable and easy culti- 
vation to their summits. 

There are no chains of hills in the town, the eminences being, in nearly 
every case, detached, aff"ording from their summits the view of an unob- 
structed and complete circle of charming landscape. There are no craggy 
peaks, or barren ledges, but the view from valley and hill-top can hardly 
be surpassed for its quiet, unpretending loveliness. 

Golden Hill, which rises upward of three hundred and twenty-five feet 
above the river, is situated about one mile east of Haverhill bridge, and 
its base is about twenty rods from the Merrimack. The prospect from 
its brow is extensive and picturesque. The beautiful island, — long 
known as Clement's Island, — with its fringe of delicately variegated 
foliage, and its smooth, green carpet ; the quiet, rural villages of Grove- 
land, and Bradford, with their snow-white cottages, and well cultivated 
meadows ; and the more extensive village of Haverhill, with its long line 
of substantial manufactories ; are in full view, and, with their rural 
environments, combine to form a picture of extraordinary beauty. This 
hill was originally called "Golding's Hill," from a person of that name 
who owned, or lived near it. 

Silver mil, or " Silver's Hill," — so called from a former owner — is 
situated about three-fourths of a mile west of Haverhill bridge, and is 



XIV 

also plainly seen from the central village. It rises gradually from the 
Merrimack, which flows past its southern base, to the height of about three 
hundred feet. The view from its summit is exceedingly beautiful. Before 
us, and almost at our very feet, lies the pleasant village of Haverhill, with 
its twelve hundred dwelling houses, its one hundred shoe manufactories, 
and its eleven churches. Its natural situation is uncommonly fine. Built 
upon a gentle acclivity, the houses rise one above anotlier in such regular 
order that nearly every one can be counted. The Merrimack, dotted here 
and there with a variety of craft, from the light and trembling skiff to 
the heavy gondola, — and the still more imposing and majestic moving 
ocean craft with their broad white sails, and tall masts overshadowing the 
water, — and spanned with its bridges, flows calmly at its base, not in one 
straight, monotonous course, but with a gentle meandering, of which the 
eye can never tire. Accross the river are seen the smoothly rounded hills, 
the green and fertile fields, and the pleasant villages of Bradford and 
Groveland. To the south rises the hills of Andover, with their wooded 
slopes dotted here and there with neat white farm-houses. A little to the 
west, the tall spires, just peeping above the hills, point out the where- 
abouts of the city which sprang into existence almost like Jonah's gourd, 
— the city of Lawrence. A little further still to the west, and the same 
signs indicate the spot long ago settled by the hardy sons of Haverhill, — 
the village of Methuen. In the dim distance beyond, enveloped in its 
misty blue, can be traced the outline of Mount "Wachusett. Still further 
toward the west, — as if it were not well the eye should roam too far, — 
the " Scotland " and "West Meadow" hills shut out the more distant 
view beyond ; — but not until we have caught sight of the tall peaks of 
the Grand Monadnock. Sweeping toward the north, we have a view of 
the thrifty farms of the AVest Parish, with the granite hills of New 
Hampshire in the background. To the north, the eye rests upon a fine 
succession of green fields and wooded slopes, marking a section of the 
town which suffered the most severely from the atrocities of the murderous 
savages. There the brave and resolute Hannah Bradley was twice taken 
captive ; there the lion-hearted Hannah Duston was captured, but not 
conquered, — and there stands her monument; there the heroic Thomas 
Duston defied the murderous tomahawk to harm the humblest of his little 
flock. There, too, upon that .gentle slope, the brave Captain Ayer, and 
his little band, boldly attacked the retreating foe, iipon the memorable 
29th of August, 1708. From this summit might have been heard the 
war whoop, and have been seen the gleaming tomahawk, in nearly every 
attack made upon the inhabitants of Haverhill by the savages. The 



XV 

valley of the Little Kiver, (or Indian River, as it was also once called) 
of -whicli tlie section just mentioned forms a part, is here seen in all its 
beauty, as it stretches with its charming succession of hill, and* dale, and 
meadow, from the Merrimack far back among the granite hills of our sister 
State. This view alone is well worth a visit to the broad summit of 
"Silver Hill. 

Turkey Hill, or, rather, the "Turkey Hills," is the irregular group of 
hills, near, and north of, the East Parish meeting-house. From the south- 
eastern brow of the principal hill, a fine view is had of the valley of the 
Merrimack, for several miles. From the summit of JoVs Hill, which is 
situated a short distance directly north of the Turkey Hills, a charming 
view of the East Meadow river and valley is obtained. These meadows 
were the most valuable, as well as most extensive in the town, and were 
highly prized by the early settlers. 

Brandy Brow Hill, — so named from the accidental breaking of a 
bottle of that traditional liquor upon its summit, — is a hill of moderate 
elevation in the extreme northern part of the town. Upon the brow of 
this hill is a large rock, which stands at the corner of four towns, — 
Haverhill, Plaistow, Amesbury and Newton. The vicinity of this hill 
was long noted for the abundance and excellence of its pine timber. 

Great Hill is the name applied to the highest elevation of laud in the 
town, and is situated one mile north of Kenoza Lake. This hill, which 
rises three hundred and thirty-nine feet above the level of the ocean, and 
is the second highest land in Essex County, is the most prominent of a 
group of hills, which, as seen from the west and north, appear quite near 
each other, and were early known as The Great Hills. The view from 
the summit of this hill is the most extensive and interesting of the many 
similar views to be obtained in the town. Portions of more than twenty 
towns in Massachusetts, and nearly or quite as many in New Hampshire, 
are easily distinguished by the naked eye. To the east stretches the broad 
Atlantic, whose deep blue waters, dotted with the white wings of com- 
merce, are plainly seen, from the G-reat Boar's Head to Cape Ann. Near 
its edge, and partially hidden from our sight by Pipe Stave Hill, in New- 
bury, are seen the spires, and many of the houses of the city of Newbury- 
port. To the right, the eye can distinctly trace the outline of Cape Ann, 
from Castle Neck to Halibut Point. "With the aid of a glass, several 
villages upon the Cape are made visible. As we sweep around from east 
to south, nearly all the most prominent hills in "Essex North" can be 
distinctly seen, and easily identified. To the south and south-west, por- 
tions of the villages of Groveland, Bradford, Haverhill, North Andover, 



XVI 

Andover, and Methuen, and the city of Lawrence, can be seen, peeping 
above the intervening hills. To the south-west, the "Wachusett ; to the 
west, the Monadnock ; and to the north, the Decrfield mountains, are easily 
distinguished. To the north-west, the village of Atkinson, with its cele- 
brated Academy, is spread out in bold relief To the north-east, is seen 
the top of Powow Hill, in Salisbury — so named from its having been the 
place selected by the Indians for their great "pow-wows," long before a 
white man gazed upon the waters of the Merrimack from its summit. 
Turning again to the south, we notice, almost at our feet, the beautiful 
Lake Kcnoza, glistening in the sun~iik6 a diamond encompassed by emer- 
alds. Once viewed, the memory of this lovely landscape scene will never 
be effaced, — 

" the faithful sight 
Engraves the image, with a beam of light." 




I«^ 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



CHAPTER I. 



EARLY VOYAGES. DISCOVERY OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Though the Western Continent bears the name of a later voyager, the 
honor of its discovery has been generally conceded to Christopher Colum- 
bus. But, from the evidence published by the Northern Antiquarian 
Society, at Copenhagen, in 1837, and which seems entitled to confidence, 
it would appear that the Western World was discovered by the Northmen, 
several centuries before the time of Columbus. 

About the year 986, one Biorne, or Biarne, a Norwegian, in sailing 
from Iceland to Greenland, lost his reckoning in dense fogs. When the 
weather became clear, he found himself sailing northeasterly, with low 
and wooded land on his left. Continuing the same course nine days, he 
arrived at Greenland, reaching it in an opposite direction from that in 
which he commenced his voyage. 

Fourteen years afterwards, Leif, with a single vessel and thirty-five 
men, sailed from Greenland in quest of the land discovered by Biorne. 
He found it and named it Helluland. Proceeding southwardly, he came 
to a land well wooded and level, which he called Marldand. Thence sail- 
ing northeasterly two days, he reached an island, where he lauded, built 
huts, and wintered. Having found grapes in its woods, he named it Vin- 
land, or Wineland. 

On his return to Greenland, Leif gave over his vessel to his brother 
Thorwald, who sailed in 1003, to explore the new country. He win- 
tered at Yinland, and the next summer found several uninhabited islands. 
After another winter, he sailed to the eastward and then to the north, 
where he was killed by the natives. After passing a third winter at 
Vinland, his companions returned to Greenland, 

In 1007, Thorfiun, with three vessels and a hundred and sixty men, 



18 HISTORY OF IIAVKRHILL. 

sailed from Greenland to Vinland to found a colony. He touched at Hell- 
ulaud and ^Marldand, and, steering south, came to a bay extending into 
the country, with an island at its entrance. Southwesterly from this 
Island, they entered a river and passed up into a lake upon whose banks 
wheat and vines grew wild. Here they found natives, of a sallow com- 
plexion, with large, ill-formed faces, and shaggy hair, who came about 
them in canoes. Several conflicts with the savages caused Thorfinn to give 
up his project of colonization and return to Greenland. 

There are also accounts of two more voyages to Vinland within the 
next three or four years, and it is claimed that communication between 
the two countries was not entirely discontinued before the middle of the 
fourteenth century. 

The name Helluland is supposed to have been given to what is now 
called Labrador, or to Newfoundland ; MarJdand to Nova Scotia, and 
Vinland to Khode Island and the southeastern part of Massachusetts. 

There are also traditions, with important corroberation, of a voyage in 
1170, by Madoc, a Welshman ; of the Yenitian brothers Zeni, in 1390 ; 
of John Vas Cortereal, a Portugese, in 1463 ; and of Szkolney, a Pole, in 
1476. 

The existence of this continent may possibly, therefore, have been 
known to the civilized world before the voyage of Columbus, in 1492 ; but 
by him conjecture and doubt were converted into certainty, and all illu- 
sions dispelled. The news of his discovery of a " New "World," and the 
glowing descriptions of its wealth, awakened the liveliest enthusiasm 
throughout Europe, and gave a fresh impulse to maratime adventure. 

In 1497, John and Scbastin Cabot sailed from England with three 
hundred men, in two ships, — touched at Iceland, — and, sailing west, came 
unexpectedly upon the coast of Labrador, or Newfoundland. After sail- 
ing along the coast as far south as Maine, and perhaps Massachusetts, 
they returned to England. These discoveries of the Cabots gave to Eng- 
land her claims to this part of North America ; but, for various reasons, 
only a few voyages were undertaken by the English for the next half 
century. 

In 1;")24, John Verazzano. a Florentine, in the service of France, sailed 
along the shore from the 34th to near the 50th degree of north latitude. 
He entered Hudson's River, sailed up Narragansett Bay, for fifteen days 
lay at anchor iu the harbor of what is now called Newport, whore his ves- 
sel was freely visited by the natives ; kept the coast of Maine in sight 
for fifty leagues, and visited as far north as Nova-Scotia. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 19 

Before the voyage of Verazzano was known in Spain, Stephen Gomez 
had sailed for the new world. He made the coast of Newfoundland and 
sailed along the country southwardly, as far as the capes of the Delaware, 
passing through Long Island Sound. 

In 1535, Jaques Cartier sailed up the St. Lawrence, and, in 1540, he 
built a stockade on the hill at Quebec. 

Fifty years after the discovery of America by Columbus, no permanent 
settlements had been made in New England or to the north. The French 
had commenced a lucrative fur trade in Canada, and the cod fisheries of 
Labrador and Newfoundland were already extensive, (in 1577 they em- 
ployed nearly three hundred and fifty vessels) , but in all New England 
not a white family was settled — not a white child had been born, 

jBut, by the opening of the seventeenth century, the thirst for dis» 
covery was fully enkindled, and colonization efi'orts were more seriously 
entertained. 

In 1602, Bartholomew Gosnold sailed from Falmouth, in England, with 
thirty-two men in a small bark, and in forty-nine days made the coast of 
New Hampshire, or perhaps Maine. The next day, he discovered a 
" mighty headland," which, from the large quantity of cod-fish caught in 
the vicinity, he named " Cape Cod." Here he landed and explored the 
coast to the south. On a "rocky ilet," in the western part of what is 
now Cuttyhinh he resolved to make a settlement ; and, after three weeks' 
labor, a cellar was dug and house erected-- ; but scarcity of provisions 
and troubles with the Indians, induced him to abandon the idea of a setr 
tlement, and he sailed for England. 

Gosnold's favorable descriptions of the country were incentives to 
further enterprise, and the next year William Brown, with two vessels 
and forty-two men and boys, made land near the mouth of the Penobscot, 
and ranging the coast to the southwest, they passed the islands of Casco 
Bay, the Saco, Kennebunk, York and Piscataqua rivers, sailed by Cape 
Ann, crossed Massachusetts Bay, and, rounding Cape Cod, came to an- 
chor in what is now Edgarton or Oldtown harbor. 

In 1605, George Weymouth arrived on the coast near Cape Cod, and sail- 
ing northward about fifty leagues, anchored at Monhegan, or vicinity, 
where he remained several weeks trading with the natives and exploring 
the country. Before he left, he- kidnapped five of the natives, whom he 
hurried into bondage. About the same time, Poutrincourt, a Frenchman, 

' The spot where Gosnold erected his house was identified by a party of Antiquarians in 1817. — 
" N. Am. Review " : V.— 813. 



20 HISTORY OF IIATERHILL, 

examined the shores of Maine and Massachusetts as far as Cape Cod, "but 
the unfriendly disposition of the natives discouraged him from further 
undertaking. 

In 1606, Sir John Popham, Sir Ferdinando Georges and others, having 
procured a grant from King James for two plantations on the Atlantic 
coast, formed two companies — the London and the Plymouth — and soon 
after, the London company sent three ships with one hundred and five 
colonists to the coast of Virginia, where they effected a settlement which 
they called Jamestown. About the same time, the Plymouth company 
sent two ships with over one hundred landsmen, under Kaleigh Gilbert 
and George Popham, but the result was an unfortunate colony at the Sag- 
adahoc, which continued only until the next year. This checked, for a 
season, the ardor of the company. 

Meanwhile, discoveries had been made, under the auspices of the Dutch, 
of the Housatonic, Thames and Connecticut Rivers, and upon the Hudson, 
and a trading house had been established near Albany. 

The earliest notice we find of the river ^Merrimack, is through the Sieur 
De Monts, who wrote from the banks of the St. Lawrence, in 1 604, thus : 
" The Indians tell us of a beautiful river, far to the south, which they call 
the Merrimack." Its abundant fisheries, and fertile planting grounds, 
were the scenes of Indian story, and the theme of Indian praise, at that 
early date. The next year, the Sieur De Champlain discovered the Mer- 
rimack. Its position was marked out for him with a coal, upon a board, 
by some Indians whom he met upon the beach, near the point of land at 
the west mouth of the Piscataqua river. This was June 16th. The next 
day, Champlain sailed along the coast to the southward, and discovered 
the river, as the Indian had laid it down. He named it " Eiviere du 
Gas." The same Indian gave him to understand that there were six 
tribes of Indians on the coast, or on the river, under as many chiefs. 

The river was called MeiTiraack by the northern Indians ; probably 
from Merriih (strong), and Anke (a place) — a strong place ; or a place of 
strong currents. The strong and rapid current which met them at the 
mouth of the river, as they entered it with their frail canoes from the 
northward, would naturally be the most prominent thing to excite their 
attention, and lead them to couple it with the name of the river. The 
Massachusetts Indians called the river Monomac'k, from Mona, (an island) 
and Anhe (a place) — the Island Place, or A Place of Islands. By some, 
the latter name is derived from sturgeon, large quantities of which were 
taken by the Indians, and also by the early English settlers, 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 2^1 

But a new era in the annals of New England begins with the voyage of 
Captain John Smith, in 1614. With two vessels and forty-nine men and 
hoys, he sailed from ^London, in March, and in a few weeks arrived at 
Monhegan. While his men fished. Smith ranged the coast in an open boat 
making noted discoveries. In this voyage, the coast was explored from 
Penobscot to Cape Cod, within which bounds, he says: "I have seen, at 
least, forty several habitations upon the sea coast, and sounded about 
twenty-five excellent good harbors." He speaks of the coast of Massa- 
chusetts as " planted with gardens and cornfields, and so well inhabited 
with a goodly, strong, and well-proportioned people, '•■' =•'■= I can 

but approve this a most excellent place, both for health and fertility. 
And of all the four parts of the world I have yet seen, not inhabited, 
could I but have means to transport a colony, I would rather live here 
than any where. =•' =■•' Here are many isles, all planted with corn, 

groves, mulberies, salvage gardens' ' and good harbors ; and the sea coast 
as you pass, shows you cornfields, and great troupes of well proportioned 
people." Smith acted honorably with the natives, but his companion, 
Hunt, whom he left behind, copied the vile example of Weymouth, and 
kidnapping upwards of twenty of the natives, sailed for Malaga, where a 
part (at least) were sold as slaves. This barbarous act, says Mather, 
" was the unhappy occasion of the loss of many a man's estate and life, 
which the barbarians did from thence seek to destroy ; and the English, 
in consequence of this treachery, were constrained for a time to suspend 
their trade, and abandon their project of a settlement in New Eng- 
land." 

In 1618, Georges, who was still anxious to settle a colony, sent out a 
vessel in charge of Capt. Thos. Dermer, and also sent with him one of the 
natives who had been carried to England, and who had acquired a smatter- 
ing of the language. After sending his vessel back laden with furs, 
Dermer embarked in an open pinnance of five tons, taking with him Tis- 
quantum, or Squanto,f the native above-mentioned, and " searching every 
harbor, and compassing every capeland," he arrived at what is now called 
Plymouth. This was his " savage's native country," and near here he 
held a friendly conference with two native kings| from Pockanokit. 
From this place Dermer, passing the Dutch settlement at Manhattan, con- 

"~- Savage gardens. 

t Who subsequently became the friend and interpreter of the Pilgrims. 

X Massasoit and his brother Quadequina, who soon after extended a hospitable reception to the Ply- 
Diunth colonists. 



22 HISTORY OP HAVERniLL 

tinued on to Virginia. This journey of Dermer preceded the landing of 
the Pilgrims but little more than a year, and was an important addition 
to the knowledge of the country. 

No colony had as yet been planted upon the territory of Massachusetts, 
though colonies were established in Canada and Newfoundland, and the 
Dutch had established trading posts in the " New Netherlands," where 
they were conducting a lucrative trade in furs. It was left for a religious 
impulse to accomplish what commercial enterprise had attempted without 
success. Civilized New England is the child of English Puritanism, and 
a history of its early settlement involves, at least in part, a history of 
Puritanism in England. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 23 



CHAPTER II. 



HISTORY OF PURITANISM. THE PILGRIMS. 



At the time Columbus discovered the New World, nearly ail Christian 
Europe was under the dominion of the church of Eome. The pope was 
the recognized head of that church, and the fountain of all power, both 
spiritual and temporal. 

England was Catholic, and for hundreds of years had been the vassal 
of Eome. When Luther kindled the fires of the Eeformation, the reign- 
ing monarch of England denounced him as the chief of heretics ; wrote in 
defence of the seven sacraments ; and was rewarded with the flattering 
title "Defender of the Faith." 

But in twenty years from the day Luther burned the bull of pope Leo 
before the gates of Wittemberg, his view had spread over a large part of 
Europe, and Protestantism had assumed its distinctive position. The 
reformation had gained a foothold ; the assumptions of Pome had been 
publicly spurned, and a host of determined opponents of the supreme and 
unlimited authority of the pope had sprung into existence. Even the 
" Defender of the Faith " had experienced a change, and when Clement 
VII refused to decree his divorce, the monarch renounced his allegiance 
to the Roman See, abrogated the authority of the pope in his realm, and 
assumed the title of " Supreme Head of the Church of England." 

But it was only a transfer of the tiara from the Tiber to the Thames ; 
and, in four years after, an act was passed " abolishing diversity of 
opinion,"" making the king's form of ortherdox doctrine a standard of be- 
lief, and punishing all teaching to the contrary, even to forfeiture of goods 
and burning at the stake. The king could burn as heretics the favorers 
of Protestantism, and hang as traitors the supporters of the pope. 

The accession of Edward YI opened a brighter prospect. The thunder 
of The Bloody Statutes died away ; prisoners for heresy were set at lib- 
erty ; fugitives allowed to return ; the Bible in English was placed in 
every church, and soon The Six Articles were repealed. But soon fol- 
lowed the requiring of uniformity in public worship, by using the 
prescribed liturgy. All innovations were prohibited, under severe penal- 
ties, even to imprisonment for life. 

o Known as the " Bloody Statutes," and the " Six Articles," 



24: HISTORY OF llAVElllIILL. 

The accession of Mary still further eclipsed the star of Protestantism. 
Educated a Catholic, and filled with bigotry and pride, she re-established 
Catholicism with all its pageantry and creed, and let loose the fierce winds 
of persecution upon the favorers of Protestantism. The fires of Smith- 
field were kindled, and hundreds perished at the stake, while hundreds 
more, fortunate enough to escape, found in various places on the Continent 
an asylum from the violence raging at home. 

Happily, the career of Mary was of short duration, and when Elizabeth 
ascended the throne, in 1558, the kingdom was once more, and pemia- 
nently, severed from the Papal see. The exiles returned, and those who 
had hid emerged from their concealment. But the Puritans, as they 
were now called, were soon satisfied that there was very little hope of a 
further reformation in religious aiTairs. The Act of Supremacy re(]^uired 
an oath of renunciation of the authority of any f6reign priest or prelate, 
and a recognition of the supremacy of the sovereign in all causes, ecclesias- 
tical and civil ; while the Act of Uniformity forbid the conducting of 
public worship otherwise than according to the rubric. Two hundred 
Catholics suffered death, and hundreds were imprisoned, and large num- 
bers of ministers Avcre punished for Non-covformity. But, instead of 
destroying, opposition only served to radicate their principles and increase 
their power. In all classes of society, Puritans were found ; and before 
the close of this reign, they began to return a majority in the House of 
Commons. 

The accession of AVhitgift to the primacy, in 1583, was a severe blow 
to the dissentients. In one week, instructions were issued forbidding 
preaching, catechising and praying in any private family in presence of 
persons not belonging to it ; and to silence all preachers who had not re- 
ceived orders from episcopal hands, or who refused or neglected to read 
the whole service, or to wear the prescribed habit, or subscribe to the 
queen's supremacy, the " Thirty-nine Articles," and the "Book of Com- 
mon Prayer." In one year, two hundred and thirty-three ministers were 
suspended in six counties. A " Court of High Commission " was organ- 
ized, with power to " visit, reform, redress, order, correct and amend all 
errors, heresies, schisms, abuses, contempts, ofi^ences, and enormities what- 
soever." The law of England virtually declared England to be 
uninhabitable by non-conformists.""' 



° Puritanism, ns an element of church politics, dntca from the time when Ilooper refused to be con- 
secrated in the ecclesiastical vestments, in 1550. In like manner, KorKonformity takes its date from 
the refusal of Bishop Coverdale and others to subscribe to the Liturgj' and other ceremonies, in 1563. 
Separatism soon followed, when several deprived ministers broke off from the public churches, audsepar- 
atcdin private houses. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 25 

But the High Commission Court did not admit of opposition, except 
from such as were prepared for ruin. Many such appeared. Some suf- 
fered death, and many others long imprisonment and ruinous fines. But 
the seed scattered grew rapidly. 

In 1593, there were four religious classes in England: 1. The Catho- 
lics, who adhered to the Church of Kome ; 2. The members of the English 
Church ; 3. The Puritans ; and 4. The Separatists, or Independents. Of 
the third class were the founders of the Massachusetts colony, and to the 
fourth belonged the settlers of Plymouth. 

The Puritans were simply non-conformists. Connected with the 
national church, they questioned chiefly the propriety of some of her ob- 
servances. They submitted to her authority as far as they could, and 
acknowledged her as their Mother in all matters of doctrinal concern ; 
and, up to the date of their removal to America, they made no open seces- 
sion from her communion. Had liberty been allowed them, they would 
probably have continued in the land of their nativity and in the bosom of 
the Establishment. 

The Plymouth colonists were not of the national church. Years before 
their expatriation, they had renounced her communion and formed 
churches of their own. Between them and the Massachusetts colonists, 
however, the differences were in matters of policy, rather than in articles 
of faith ; and, on their arrival in the New World, apart from the influen- 
ces of their native land, and under far difi"erent circumstances, a few years 
intercourse assimilated their views and cemented their union. 

Such was the origin of Puritanism and Independency, We now pass to 
a brief notice of the church of the Pilgi'ims. 

The church of the Pilgrims was first organized at Grainsborough, about 
159.8, and was afterward formed into two bodies, the junior of which met 
at the house of William Brewster, in Scrooby, In July, 1604, a procla- 
mation was issued, commanding the Puritan clergy to conform before the 
last of November, or to dispose of themselves and families in some other way. 
In consequence of this edict, and the persecutions which followed it, the 
Independent churches at Gainsborough and Scrooby resolved to escape. 
The former was the first to depart, fleeing to Holland. The other tarried 
a little longer, hoping for a lull in the fierce storm ; but, finally, after 
many troubles, and two unsuccessful attempts to escape, in August, 1608, 
they arrived safely in Holland. For a few months, they sojourned at Am- 
sterdam, when they removed to Leyden, about forty miles distant. Here 
they lived in comparative peace. Others, from time to time, joined them, 
until they numbered about two hundred persons. 



26 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

But ciglit years residence in a land of strangers, satisfied this little band 
that Holland could not be for them a permanent home ; and after long 
and anxious consideration, they resolved to remove to America. A grant 
was finally obtained from the Virginia company, and after many delays 
and perplexities, one hundred and twenty persons sailed from South- 
hampton, in two small vessels, — the Speedwell and the Mayflower. The 
former vessel proving leaky, they were obliged to abandon it, and one 
hundred and two embarked in the Mayflower. Their destination was to 
some point near Hudson's Eiver ; but after a stormy passage of sixty -four 
days, they came in sight of the white sand-banke of Cape Cod, when they 
tacked to stand to the southward. Becoming "entangled among roaring 
shoals," they retraced their course, and the next day came to anchor in 
what is now the roadstead of Provincetown. After a brief exploration of 
the adjacent country, the voyagers landed and commenced a settlement, 
which they called New Plymouth. The landing was made on Monday, 
December 11th, Old Style, upon what has long since been called Fore' 
fathers' Rock. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 27 



CHAPTER III. 



SETTLEMENTS IN MASSACHUSETTS FROM 1620 TO 1640. 



The fame of the " plantation " at Plymouth soon spread through a 
large portion of England, exciting the deepest interest in the subject of 
colonization, and emigration soon began in earnest. 

In 1623, settlements were made at Cocheco, (Dover, N. H.,) and at 
Piscataqua, (Portsmouth) ; and there were probably a very few settle- 
ments in Maine. In 1624, a company from England, called the Dorchester 
Adventurers, commenced a settlement at Cape Ann, but soon abandoned 
it and removed to Naumkeag (Salem). The Plymouth colony, now num- 
bering two hundred and eighty persons, in thirty-two cabins, had already 
established a trading house at Nantasket, and commenced one at the Ken- 
ebec. During the succeeding year, a settlement was commenced in 
Quincy, on the eminence which still bears the name of the founder of the 
plantation. Mount Wollaston. 

From 1620 to 1630, the emigration to New England was inconsiderable, 
and but few new settlements were made. 

The first vigorous and extensive movement toward the settlement of 
Massachusetts commenced in 1628, when a patent was obtained for Sir 
Henry Roswell and others, conveying lands extending from the Atlantic 
to the AVestern Ocean, and in width from a line running three miles north 
of the Kiver Merrimack, to a line three miles south of the River Charles. 
In August, of the same year, John Endicott, one of the patentees, with a 
company of " fifty or sixty persons," arrived at Naumkeag ; and before 
winter commenced a new settlement at Mishawam (Charlestown) . The 
next year, the company was much enlarged ; a royal charter was obtained, 
creating a corporation under the name of the " Governor and Company of 
the Massachusetts Bay in New England ; " and soon after the organization 
under the charter, six vessels with " eighty women and maids, twenty-six 
children, three hundred men, with victuals, arms, tools, and necessary ap- 
parel, one hundred and forty head of cattle, and forty goats," arrived at 
Salem, at which place they found "half a score of houses, and a fair 
house newly built for the Governor." One hundred of the colonists im- 
mediately " planted themselves " at Charlestown. 

In 1629, it was determined to transfer the charter to New England. 
John Winthrop was chosen Governor, and in March, 1630, he sailed for 



28 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

Massachusetts -with a fleet of eleven vessels, " filled with passengers of all 
occupations, skilled in all kinds of faculties needful for the planting of a 
new colony." During this year, seventeen ships, with about fifteen hun- 
dred passengers, arrived in the Bay and at Plymouth. Settlements were 
then established at Wessagussett, ("Weymouth) Nantasket, Mount WoUas- 
ton, Mattapan, (Dorchester) Salem, Mystic, (Medford) Lynn, Charlestown, 
Winnissimet, (Chelsea) Noddle's Island, (East Boston) Thompson's Island, 
Shawmut, (Boston) Watertown, Roxbury and Newtown, within the limits 
of the Massachusetts colony. 

The accessions in 1G31 were but few, but in the two following years 
they were more numerous. In 1634, the colony contained from three to 
four thousand inhabitants, distributed in sixteen towns. Boston was the 
capitol. During this year, settlements were commenced at Saugus, Mar- 
vill Head, (]\Iarblehead) Agawam, (Ipswich) and Merrimacke." 

In 1035, Newbury, Concord, and Dedham were incorporated. Already 
"the people were straightened for want of room," and parties from 
Dorchester and Newtown had " planted in Connecticut." In 1636, Eoger 
Williams laid the foundation of Providence, R. I., and new settlements 
begun to spring up on every hand. Plantations were made at "Windsor, 
Hartford, "Weathersfield, and New Haven, in Connecticut ; and at Exeter, 
and Hampton, in New Hampshire. 

Emigrants continued to arrive in large numbers. In three months, in 
1638, no less than three thousand settlers arrived in Massachusetts. 
Plantations were commenced at Salisbury and Rowley, in 1639, though 
persons had settled in the former place as early as 1037. 

In 1640, it is calculated there were in New England over twenty thou- 
sand persons, or four thousand families. 

Before 1643, at which time the four colonies of Massachusetts, Ply- 
mouth. Connecticut and New Haven, formed a " Confederation of New 
England Colonies," there were supposed to be a thousand acres of land 
planted for orchards and gardens, and fifteen thousand other acres under 
general tillage. The number of neat cattle was estimated at twelve thou- 
sand, and the number of sheep at three thousand. Acts had been passed 
incorporating North Chelsea, Salisbury, Springfield, Rowley, Sudbury, 
Braintree, Woburn. Gloucester, Haverhill, Wenham, and Hull, in addition 
to those already mentioned. This year four counties were incorporated : 
Suffolk, Essex, Middlesex, and Old Norfolk, containing in all thirty towns. 

The country east of the Piscataqua was still almost without English 

' Wood's New England Prospect. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 29 

inhabitants, and the only town then incorporated west of Worcester, (in 
this State) was Springfield. ■■= 

Emigrants continued to arrive in large numbers, until about 1640. 
The meeting of the Long Parliament, by opening the prospect of a fair 
field to fight out the battle of freedom at home, put a final stop to the ex- 
patriation of patriotic Englishmen; and for the next century and a 
quarter, it is believed that more went hence to England than came hither 
from England. Nor did anything that can be called an immigration oc- 
cur again for nearly two hundred years, f 

« The following is a list of the towns in Massachusetts which were settled previously to 1640, and also 
those settled in that year : » 

Settled. Settled. Settled. 

Barnstable, 1639 Ipswich, 1633 Sudbury 1638 

Beverly 1626 Lynn, 1629 Watertown 1630 

Boston, 1626 i Marblehead, 1631 Wenham 1639 

Braintree 1630 Medford 1630 Weymouth, 1624 

Cambridcre 1630 Newburv, 1635 Yarmouth, 1639 

Charlestown, 1628 Plymouth 1620 

Concord 1635 Rowley, 1639 Haverhill 1640 

Dedham 1635 Roxbury 1630 Woburn, 1640 

Dorchester 1630 Salem, 1626 Reading 1640 

Duxbury 1637 Salisbury 1639 Marshfield 1640 

Gloucester, 1639 Scituate, 1633 Manchester, 1640 

Hingham 1633 Springfield 1635 

Haverhill was the thirtieth town settled within the present limits of the State of Massachusetts and 
the forty-ninth in New England. It was the thirty-second incorporated town in the State, 
t Palfrey. 



30 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



CHAPTER IV. 



ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS. 



The native population of New England, at the time of the first English 
immigration, was probably not far from fifty thousand ; of which number 
Connecticut and Rhode Island contained perhaps one-half, and ]\Iaine 
rather more than one-fourth.= -= Of the ]^Iaine Indians, the Etechcmins 
dwelt furthest towards the east ; the Abenaquis, of whom the Tarratines 
were a part, hunted on both sides of the Penobscot, and westward as far 
as the Saco, or, perhaps the Piscataqua. The home of the Penacook or 
Pawtuckct Indians, was in the valley of the Merrimack, and the contigu- 
ous region of Massachusetts. The Massachusetts tribe dwelt along the 
Bay of that name. Then were found the Pokanokets, or AVampanoags, 
in southeastern Massachusetts, by Buzzard's and Xarragansett Bays ; the 
Narragansetts, in Rhode Island ; the Pequots, between the Xarragansetts 
and the river Thames ; and the Mohegans, from the Pequots to the Con- 
necticut river. In central Massachusetts were the Nipmucks, or Xipnets. 
Vermont, Western Massachusetts and northern New Hampshire, were 
almost, if not absolutely, without inhabitants. 

These principal tril)es were sub-divided into numerous smaller tribes. 
Of those upon the Merrimack river, were the Agawams, who occupied from 
the mouth of the river to Cape Ann ; the Wamesits, at the forks of the 
Merrimack and Concord rivers, on the west side of the former and both 
sides of the latter ; The Xashuas, at Nashua ; the Souhegans, on the river 
of the same name; the Namaoskeags, at Amoskeag; the Pemacooks, or 
Penacooks, at Concord ; and the Winnequesaukees, at the Wiers, near 
Lake AVinnepiscogc. 

The Penacooks were the most powerful tribe in this whole region. The 
others were controlled by them for a long time, and paid tribute to them. 
Passaconnaway, a firm friend to the English, was the chief of the Pena- 
cooks, and the " Great Sachem of all the tribes that dwelt in the valley 
of the Merrimack. f He was the most noted powow or sorcerer of all the 
country, and exerted an almost boundless influence over his people. He 
lived to a very great age, as GookiuJ saw him at Pawtucket (Lowell) 
" when he was about one hundred and twenty years old." He died about 
1G65. and was succeeded by his son Wannalancet, who remained at the 

° Palfrey. t Elliott. J Hist. Praying Indians. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 31 

head of the fast diminishing people until 1677, when he retired to Cana- 
da. Wannalancet was succeeded by Kancamagus, (known to the English 
as John Hogkins) son of Xanamocomuck, the eldest son of Passaconna- 
way. lie was elected Sagamore by the remnant of the tribe who remained 
at Pennacook after the withdrawal of Wannalancet, and was afterwards 
joined by many " strange Indians," from other tribes, who had become 
disaffected with the English. He was an active spirit in the Indian diffi- 
culties of 1676 to 1691, and one of the most troublesome enemies of the 
English. 

The aboriginal inhabitants of New England held a low place in the 
scale of humanity. They had no civil government, no religion, no letters, 
no history, no music, no poetry. The French rightly named them Les 
Homnes des Bois — " Men Brutes of the Forest." Except a power of en- 
during hunger and weather, acquired by their hunting habits, they were 
tender and not long-lived ; and though supple and agile, they always sank 
under continuous labor. In them, the lymphatic temperament predomi- 
nated. They scarcely ever wept or smiled. Their slender appetites 
required small indulgence, though at times a gormandizing rage seemed to 
possess them. Though no instance is recorded of their offering insult to a 
female captive, it must be credited wholly to their natural coldness of 
constitution. Their grave demeanor, which has so often been interpreted 
as an indication of self-respect, was rather an indication of mere stolid 
vacuity of emotion and thought. In constitution of body and mind, they 
were far below the negro race. 

They were simple, ignorant, and indolent. The Indian women per- 
formed all the drudgery of the household, and were also the tillers of the 
soil ; the lazy, indolent lords and masters deeming it debasing to engage 
in aught except hunting, fishing, and war. 

Their principle article of food was Indian corn, prepared in various 
ways, — either boiled alone into hominy, or mixed with beans and called 
succotash, or parched, or broke up into meal and moistened with water, in 
which case it was named nookik-' They had also fish and game, nuts, 
roots, berries, and a few cultivated vegetables. 

A hoe, made of a clam-shell or a moose's shoulder-blade, was their only 
tool of husbandry. Their manure was fish, covered over in tlie hill along 
with the seed. Fish were taken with lines or nets, the cordage of which 
were made of the fibres of the dogbane, or the sinews of the deer. Hooks 
were made of sharpened bones of fishes and birds. 

® Corrupted into nokik, nocake, nouecake, " Johny-cake," etc. 



32 HISTORY OP UAVERUILL. 

Their houses, or lolgwams, were of a circular or oval shape, made of 
bark or mats, laid over a frame-work of branches of trees stuck in the 
ground in such a manner as to converge at the top, where was an aperture 
for the escape of the smoke. The better sort had also a lining of mats. 
For doors, two low openings were left on opposite sides, one or the other 
of which was closed with bark or mats, according to the direction of the 
wind. 

They were slothful, improvident, deceitful, cruel and revengeful. Pa- 
rental and filial affection were feeble and transient. They had no formal 
marriage or funeral ceremonies, or forms of worship; no flocks, herds or 
poultry. Their shelters, clothing, tools, hunting implements, &c., were of 
the simplest and rudest kind, and could scarce be called ingenious. 

The aborigines of Xew England possessed no code of laws, or any set 
of customs having the force of legal obligation. 

The early French explorers declared that tribes visited by them were 
without a notion of religion, and there is not wanting testimony of the 
same kind in relation to the New England tribes. It is certain they had 
no temples, no public ritual, nothing which can be called social worship, 
no order of priests, no machinery of religion. 

In revenge, they were barbarous and implacable ; they never forgot or 
forgave injuries. Their wars were massacres. 

With the Indian, the social attraction was feeble. The most he knew 
of companionship and festivity, was when he would meet his fellows by 
the shores of ponds, and falls of rivers, in the fishing season. Much of 
his life was passed in the seclusion of his wigwam, and the solitude of the 
chase. This habit of loneliness and of self-protection, made him inde- 
pendent and proud. His pride created an aptitude for stoicism, which 
constituted his point of honor. This was fortitude under suffering. 
Craft, rather than valor, distinguished him in war. Stealth and swift- 
ness composed his strategy. He showed no daring and no constancy in 
the field ; but it was great glory to him to bear the most horrible tortures 
without complaint or a sigh of anguish. 

His brave endurance presented the bright side of his character. He 
was without tenderness, and but few instances are recorded of his appear- 
ing capable of gratitude. Cunning and falsehood were eminently his. 
His word was no security. A treaty could not bind him when he sup- 
posed it might be broken without danger. Exceptions are to be allowed 
for in every portraiture of a class of men, as everywhere and at all times 
there are natures that rise above the moral standard of their place. But 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 33 

it remains true of the normal representative of this peculiar race, that his 
temper was sullen, jealous, intensely vindictive, and ferociously cruel.'-* 

They have been called eloquent. Never was a reputation more cheaply 
earned. Take away their commonplaces of the mountain and the thunder, 
the sunset and the water-fall, the eagle and the buffalo, the burying of the 
hatchet, the smoking of the calumet, and the lighting of the council-fire, 
and the material for their pomp of words is reduced within contemptible 
dimensions. Their best attempts at reasoning or persuasion have been 
the simplest statements of facts. Whatever may be thought of the speci- 
mens of Indian oratory in other parts of North America, — which must be 
allowed to be mostly of doubtful authenticity, — certain it is there is no 
recorded harangue of a New England Indian which can assert a claim to 
praise. Occasions were not wanting, but the gift of impressive speech 
was not his. 

Their manner of expression was vehement and emphatic ; their ideas 
being few, their language was far from copious. It really consisted of 
but few words. They had no letters, but few symbols or signatures, no 
chronicles, and scarce any traditions extending back farther than two or 
three generations. 

Such was the aborigines of New England. Those who have studied 
only the Indian of romance, will seek in vain for a single specimen of such 
among the sober realities of life. Like the traditional Yankee, they are 
only and altogether creations of fancy. 

A few years before the settlement of New England by the English, a 
war broke out among the aborigines of the country, which resulted in the 
destruction of thousands of the Indians. To the war succeeded a pesti- 
lence, which spread far and wide, and was exceedingly fatal. It raged, 
at intervals, for more than two years, and extended from the borders of 
the Tarratines southward to the Narragansetts. "The people died in 
heaps ; " whole families and tribes perished ; so that " the living were no 
wise able to bury the dead," and seven years afterward the bones of the 
uuburied lay bleaching upon the ground around their former habitations. 
The nature of this epidemic has never been determined. It has been sup- 
posed to have been the small pox, or the yellow fever. The Penobscots and 
the Narragansetts suffered but little from it, nor does it seem to have 
troubled the few English residents of the country. Richard Vines, who 
was stopping at Saco when the pestilence was at its height, says that 
though he and his men " lay in the cabin with these people that died, not 

^ ralfrey. 



34 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

one of them ever felt their heads to ache so long as they stayed there," 
Thus, as if by special Providence, were the aborigines weakened and 
scattered, and New England prepared for the reception of civilized and 
christian immigrants. Throughout the whole of the region swept by the 
pestilence, there was scarce a tribe that dare oppose the sturdy settlers ; 
and it was only when several of the stronger ones combined, that they 
were able, even temporarily, to obstruct the progress of the settlement. 

The only serious conflicts with the natives between the settlement at 
Plymouth, in 1620, and that of Haverhill, in 1640, was during the troubles 
with the Pequots, 1G36— 7. But so vigorously was the war prosecuted 
on the part of the English, that, in a few months, that once formidable 
nation was nearly exterminated, and the few that remained were divided 
among the friendly tribes as vassals. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 35 



CHAPTER V. 



SETTLEMENT OF HAVERHILL. 1640. 



The large immigration into Massachusetts during the years immediately 
preceding 1638, led to the settlement of many new plantations, as well as 
the rapid enlargement of those already settled. So great, in fact, was the 
influx of immigrants, that in many places they could not be accommo- 
dated. This was particularly the case with Ipswich and Newbury, whither 
had flocked large numbers of emigrants from the vicinity of Ipswich, 
Newbury, Haverhill, Lynn, and other towns in the easterly part of Eng- 
land. By these persons, several new places were settled ; among them, 
Pentucket, or Haverhill. 

The earliest intimation we can find of the settlement of this town, is 
contained in the following letter- to Gov. Winthrop, from one Giles Fir- 
man, of Ipswich, under the date of Dec. 26, 1639: — 

' ' Much honored and dear Sir : 

' But that I thinke it needlesse (God havinge more than ordinarye fitted 
you for such trials) my letter might tell you with what griefe of spirit I 
received the news of that sad affliction which is lately happened to your 
worship, by means of that unfaithful wretch ; I hope God will find a 
shoulder to helpe you beare so great a burthen. But the little time that 
is allotted me to write, I must spend in requesting your worships counsel 
and favour. My father in law Ward.f since his sonnej came over, is varey 
desirous that wee might sett down together, and so that he might leave 
us together if God should remove him from hence. Because that cant be 
accomplished in this town, is verey desirous to get mee to remove with 
him to a new plantation. After much perswasion used, consideringe my 
want of accommodations here (the ground the town having given mee ly- 
ing 5 miles from mee or more) and that the gains of physick will not 
finde me in bread, but besides apprehendinge that it might bee a way to 
free him from some temptations, and make him more cheerful and more 
serviceable to the country or church, have yeelded to him. Herein, as I 
desire your counsel,so do J humbly request your favor, that you would be 
pleased to give us the libertye of choosinge a plantation ; wee thinh it will 
bee at Pentuckett or Quichichchek,% \_Cochichatoich~\ by Shaioshin : so soon 
as the season will give us leave to goe, we shall inform your worship 

» Hntch. Hist.. Coll., 128. t Rev. Nathaniel Ward. t •Tohn Ward. § Andover. 



36 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

whicli we desire : And if that, by the court of election, wee cannot gather 
a company to begine it, wee will let it fall. We desire you will not 
graunt any of them to any before wee have scene them. If your worship 
have heard any relation of the places, wee should remainc thankful to you 
if you would be pleased to counsel us to any of them. Further, I would 
entreat for advise in this ; The towne gave mee the ground (100 acres) 
upon this condition, that I should stay in the towne 3 years, or else I 
could not sell it : Now my father supposes it being my first heritage (my 
father having none in the land) that it is more than they canne doe to hin- 
der mee thus, when as others have no business, but range from place to 
place, on purpose to live upon the countrey. I would entreate your coun- 
sel whither or noe I canne sell it. Further : I am strongly sett upon to 
studye divinite, my studyes else must be lost ; for physick is but a meene 
helpe. In these cases I humbly referre to your worship, as my father, for 
your counsel, and so in much haste, with my best services presented to 
your worship, wishinge you a strong support in your affliction, and a good 
and comfortable issue, I rest your worships in what he canne to his 
power. GYLES FYEMIN." 

Ipswich, 26, 10th, 1639. 

Wee humbly entreate your secrecy e in our desires." 

Whether the reply of the Governor was favorable or otherwise, we are 
unable to determine, but it is certain that Fyrmin did not leave Ipswich 
until fifteen years afterwards. 

At the session of the General Court, held at Boston on the 13th of the 
succeeding May, (May 13, 1640) a petition was received from "Mr. Ward 
and Newberry men " for permission to begin a new plantation on the 
Merrimack,! which petition was " committed to the Governor, Deputy 
Governor, and Mr. Winthrop, Senior, to consider of Patucket and Coijch- 
awick, and to grant it them, provided they returne answer within three 
weeks from the 21st present, and that they build there before the next 
Courte."J 

° Gyles Fyrmin (or Firman) was the son of Giles, an apothecary at Sudbury, England. He was horn 
in 1614, educated at Cambridge, England, and afterwards studied medicine and was admitted to practice 
previous to his emigration to this country. In 1638, the town of Ipswich granted him one hundred acres 
of land, on condition that he lived there three years. In December, 1639, he married a daughter of Eev . 
Nathaniel Ward, of Ipswich, a few days after which he wrote the above letter to Gov. Winthrop. He 
was made a freeman in the same year. Fyrmin was an elder in the church at Ipswich, where he con- 
tinned to reside until 1654, when he returned to England. He afterward became eminent as a divine, as 
well as physician, and after a long and useful life, he died in April, 1697, at the ripe age of eighty-three 
years. 

t This petition is probably now lost, as the most cartful search has failed to give us nny further clue 
to it. 

t Colonial Records, 1— 2ftfl. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 37 

Mr. Ward and his associates selected Pentucket, and commenced a 
settlement at that place some time previous to the October following their 
petition. It is probable that they commenced operations immediately on 
learning the action of the General Court, as they had then barely suffi- 
cient time to plant for that season, and the fact that before the prescribed 
time they had commenced a plantation shows that they were by no means 
dilatory in their movements. 

At the next session of the Court, (October 7th. of the same year) a com- 
mittee was appointed " to view the bounds between Colchester-' and Mr. 
Ward's plantation.! 

We are confident that no white man had settled within the limits of 
Pentucket previous to the coming of Mr. Ward's associates, as no mention 
can be found of such settlement in the records of the colony, which are 
quite full and explicit upon all similar matters relating to that early 
period of its history. As early as September, 1G30, (within two mouths 
after the arrival of the Charter of the Colony) it was "ordered that noe 
person shall plant in any place within the lymitts of this pattent, without 
leaue from the Gouvernor and Assistants, or the maior part of them ; " 
and " also that a warrant shall presently be sent to Aggawam, to com- 
mand \hose that are planted there forthwith to come away." That this 
was no "dead letter" enactment, may be judged from the fact that seven 
years afterwards, — and when thousands of immigrants had arrived in the 
country, and new settlements were increasing with gi-eat rapidity, — an 
order was given to the constable of Xewberry to apprehend those men who 
had thus planted themselves at what is now Salisbury, and to tak^ them 
before the court, at Ipswich, to answer for such violation of law. At the 
November Court, 1637, leave was granted certain petitioners from New- 
berry to settle at Winnacunnet, (Hampton) "or upon any other plantation 
upon the Merrimak, below the first falls, and to have sixe miles square ; " 
and, in Sept., 1688, liberty was allowed Gyles Firman, and others, upon 
their petition, "to hegin a plantation at Merrimack." 

Winthrop,| under the date of 1643, says: " about this time, two plan- 
tations began to be settled upon Merrimack, Pentuckett called Hauerill, 
and Cochichawick called Andover," Under the date of 1638, he says: 
" One (plantation) was begun at Merrimack," doubtless referring to Salis- 
bury, which was settled about that time. 

Cotton Mather§ makes the date of the settlement of Haverhill 1641, 
but he, as well as Winthrop, evidently reckons from the time of Eev. John 

■^ Salisbury. t Colonial Records, 1 — 303. 

X Hist, of New England, 2—121. § Ma^nali.i, 470. 



38 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

Ward's coining to Haverhill, which, as wc shall see, was not until some 
time after the first settlement. 

Felts under the date of 1640, says: "Mr. (Nath'l) Ward, with some 
men of Newbury, is conditionally allowed to form a settlement at Haver- 
hill, or at Andover. This privilege was improved, and the former place 
was chosen before October. His chief object in obtaining such a grant was 
to prepare a residence for his son, who became an estimable minister there." 
We think that the conditions upon which the petitioners were to be 
allowed their request, viz: "provided they returne answer within 
three weeks from the 21st present, and that they build there before the next 
Courte ; " and the appointing of commissioners at that Court " to view 
the bounds between Colchester and Mr. Ward's plantation ; with the ab- 
sence of conflicting records, or even traditions, are sufficient to fix the date 
of our first settlement as 1640. 

The first company of settlers in the wild woods of Pentucket were from 
Tpsv;ich and Newbury, and were twelve in number. 'I'he following are 
their names : — , ,, . 

William White< John Eobinson, - Abraham Tylers-' 

Samuel Gile, Christopher Hussey. Daniel Ladd, ^^ 

James Davis,. John Williams, Joseph Merrier' 

Henry Palmer, Eichard Littlehale, - ^ Job Clement.«^ 



The last four were from Ipswich. 7 • t^^- ^ \yy' rJ' 



It has been generally supposed that the Rev. John Ward was the per- 
son who petitioned to the General Court in the spring of 1640, and that 
he accompanied the first band of settlers to Pentucket. But we are confi- 
dent that neither supposition is correct. The historian of Ipswich, in the 
passage already quoted, and the editor of our Colonial Eecordsf both say 
that the Ward alluded to in the Court Records, was Nathaniel, (the father 
of John Ward,) who was, it seems, very anxious to find some good place 
for his son to settle in the ministr}-. 

Tliat John Ward did not settle in Haverhill as early as 1 640 is evident 
from the fact that he preached at Agamenticus (now York, Me.) in the 
early part of 1641, and perhaps later. Winthrop, (Hist. 2, p. 34) under 
date of Feb. 29, 1641, says: 

" Mr. Peters and Mr. Dalton, with one of Acomenticus, went from Pis- 
cataquack, loith Mr. John Ward, who was to be entertained there for their 
minister ; and though it be but six miles, yet they lost their way, and 
wandered two days and one night, without food or fire, in the snow and 
wet. But God heard their prayers, wherein they earnestly pressed him 

o Hist. Ipswich, 18:H. t Dr. Shnrtlctr. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 39 

for the honor of his great name, and when they were even quite spent, he 
brought them to the sea-side, near the place where they were to go, blessed 
forever be his name." 

After diligent search, we have been unable to find the name of any 
other John Ward to whom the incident could refer ; and, to strengthen us 
in our supposition, no writer except Mirick (in his History of the town) 
places the date of Mr. Ward's coming to Haverhill earlier than sometime 
in the year 1641. Mather (Mag. 2, 470) says of him : " The first notice 
of him that occurs to me, being in the year 1639, when he came over into 
these parts of America; and settled therein the year 1641, in a town 
also called HaA'eril." Farmer (N, E. Geneo.) gives the date of Mr. 
Ward's settlement in Haverhill as 1645. He evidently, however, mistakes 
Mr. Ward's settlement as mifiister, for his first settlement in the town. 
Felt, (Hist. Ips.) under date of 1641, says: — "Kev. John Ward, Mr. 
John Favor, and Hugh Sherratt went from Ipswich to Haverhill ; " and 
Allen, (Am. Biog. and Hist. Diet., p. 571) says " he preached for some 
time at Agamenticus, but in 1641 was settled at Haverhill, then a new 
plantation." 

We have directed our attention to the history of the church at York, 
Me., but without receiving any additional light upon the point. Green- 
leaf (Eccl. Hist. Maine) informs us that " the first preacher at York of 
whom any account is preserved, was one Burdett, who came hither from 
Exeter." And, in another place, he says, "no record can be found at 
this day of the first gathering and embodying of the church in this town, 
nor the proceedings of the church under the two first ministers. It is 
presumed, however, that it was organized in the year 1673. In that year, 
the Eev. Shubal Dummer was ordained at York ; and as the uniform prac- 
tice had been to gather and organize a church before settling a minister, it 
is highly probable that the church is to be dated from that year." 

The first mention made of Mr. Ward, in the Town Eecords of Haver- 
hill, is a note at the bottom of the page, under the year 1643, stating that 
on the 29th of Sept., 1642, he had "sixteen acres of land laid out to 
him for a home-lot, with all the accommodations thereunto belonging." 

Aside from the almost certain fact that Mr. Ward preached at York as 
late as 1641, and the weight of written authority that his settlement in 
Haverhill was in that year, much stress, we think, may be placed on the 
strong improbability of a person in his circumstances and position accom- 
panying a small pioneer company of persons to break ground for a new 
settlement. Such labor was, at least, not usual for a " minister." It 



40 HISTORY OP IIAVKRUILL. 

would seem more reasonable that he should have waited until the settle- 
ment had been made, before he took up his residence among them ; and 
such, we believe was the fact. It is probable he came to the new planta- 
tion about the full of 1G41. So pleased were the settlers with their good 
fortune in securing his settlement among them, that they named the place 
" Haverhill," that being the name of his birth-place, in England. 

John Waku, the master-spirit of this hardy band of pioneers, was a 
son of Kev. Nathaniel Ward,'-' and a grandson of Eev. John Ward, a 
worthy and distinguished minister of Haverhill, England. He was born 
in Haverhill, Essex Co., England, Nov. 5, 1G06. He received the degree 
of A. B. in 162G, and that of A. M. in 1630, at the University of Cam- 
bridge, England. He came to this country in 1639. 

Matherf speaks of him as " learned, ingenious, and religious. He was 
a person of quick apprehension, a clear understanding, a strong memory, 
a facetious conversation, an exact grammarian, an expert physician, and, 
which was the top of all, a thorough divine ; but, which rarely happens, 
these endowments of his mind were accompanied with a most healthy, 
hardy, and agile constitution of body, which enabled him to make nothing 
of walking on foot a journey as long as thirty miles together. Such was 
the blessing of God upon his religious education, that he was not only re- 
strained from the vices of immorality in all his younger days, but also 
inclined unto all virtuous actions. Of young persons, he would himself 
give this advice : Whatever you do, be sure to maintain shame in them ; 
for if that be once gone, there is no hope that they'll ever come to good. 
Accordingly, our Ward was always ashamed of doing any ill thing. He 
was of a modest and 'bashful disposition, and very sparing of speaking, 
especially before strangers, or such as he thought his betters. He was 
wonderfully temperate in meat, in drink, in sleep, and he was always ex- 
pressed, I had almost said, affected, a peculiar sobriety of apparal. He 
was a son most exemplarily dutiful unto his parents ; and having paid 
some considerable debts of his father, he would afterwards humbly ob- 

o Rev. Nnthrtuicl Ward, a son of Rev. John Ward, was born in 1570, and educated at the University 
of Cambridge. Ue was, for some time, pastor of a church at Standon, in Hertfordshire, but being driven 
out of England for liis non-confonnity, he emigrated to New England in 163i, and settled as pastor ol the 
church at Ipswich, then called Agawani. He was bred a l.iwyer, and, in 1638, was appointed by the General 
Court to draw up a code of laws for New England. Though a pious man, he was very eccentric in his conduct. 
He soon left his charge at Ipswich, was without employment for some time, and returned to England in 
lt)47. He was afterwards a settled minister at Shetlicld. He died in 1053. He wrote several books of 
humor, and some learned treatises, hut none have come down to us but the one entitled " The Simple 
C'obler of Jgatvavi," which he wrote at Ipswich, and which has passed through many editions, 
t Magnalia. 



HISTORY OP HAYERHILh. 41 

serve and confess, that God had abundantly recompensed this his dutiful- 
uess. 

" Though he had great offers of rich matches in England, yet he chose 
to marry a meaner person, •■whom exemplary piety had recommended. He 
lived with her for more than forty years, in such an happy harmony, that 
when she died he professed that in all this time, he never had received 
one displeasing word or look from her. Although she would so faithfullj'' 
tell him of everything that might seem amendable in him, that he would 
compare her to an accusing conscience, yet she ever pleased him wonder- 
fully ; and she would often put upon him the duties of secret fasts, and 
when she met with any thing in rcLidiug that she counted singularly 
agreeable, she would still impart it unto him. For which cause, when he 
lost this his mate, he caused these words to be fairly written on his table- 
board. — 

In Lugeuda Compare, Vit;c Spacinm Compleat Orliii;;: 

And there is this memorable passage to be added. While she was a maid 
there was ensured unto her, the revenue of a parsonage worth two hundred 
pounds per annum, in case that she mai-ried a minister. And all this had 
been given to our Ward, in case he had conformed unto the doubtful mat- 
ters of the Church of England ; but he left all the allurements and 
enjoyments of England, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people 
of God in a Avilderness. 

■" Although he would say, there is no place for fishing like the sea, and 
the more hearers a minister has, the more hope there is that some of them 
will be catched in the nets of the Gospel ; nevertheless, through his 
humility and reservation, it came to pass, that as he chose to begin his 
ministry in Old England at a very small place, thus when he came to New 
England he chose to settle with a new plantation, where he could expect 
none but small circumstances all his days. He did not love to appear 
upon the public stage himself, and there appeared few there, whom he did 
not prefer above himself : but when he was there, every one might see 
how conscientiously he sought the edification of the souls of the plainest 
auditors, before the ostentation of his own abilities. And from the like 
diffidence it was, that he would never manage any ecclesiastical affairs in 
his church, without previous and prudent consultations with the best advi- 
sors that he knew : he would say he had rather always follov/ advice 
though sometimes the advice might mislead him, than ever act without 
advice, though he might happen to do well by no advice but his own." 

c Alice Edmunds, by whom he had two children, Elizabeth and Mary. His wife died March 24, 1680. . 



42 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

Pleasant, indeed, is it to be able to point to so amiable and exemplary 
an individual as one of the founders of our town, and the spiritual and tem- 
poral adviser and master-spirit of its early settlers. Mr. AVard died 
December 27, 1693. 

Of the previous history of the associates of Mr. Ward in his arduous 
enterprise, we have been able to glean but few particulars, — which may 
be found in another place. For the present, suffice it to say, that their 
descendcnts have ever been, and yet are, among our best and most prom- 
inent citizens. 

At the succeeding October court, ' ' Mr. Edward Woodman, Mr. Paine, 
and Mr. Nelson, were appointed to view the bounds between Colchester 
(Salisbury) and Mr. Ward's plantation,"- from which it would seem that 
the work of settling had been begun in earnest. The first house was 
erected near the old burying ground, j and for some time the principal 
settlements were made in that vicinity, though land was cleared and broken, 
and houses built in other parts of the town. It was nearly two years, 
however, before a house was erected as far from the centre as Little Eiver, 
about which time one was built near where Winter Street now crosses 
that stream. 

The Indian name of the region included within the present bounds of 
the town, was Pentuchett, and it was at one time the home of quite a 
numerous tribe of that name, who were under the jurisdiction of Passa- 
connaway, chief of the Pennacooks. Their principal village is supposed to 
have been on the banks of Little Eiver, not far from its mouth ; and the 
second house on Merrimack street, east from Emerson street, stands upon 
their ancient burial ground. AVhen the cellar of the above house was 
excavated, a number of Indian skeletons were dug up, in a very good state 
of preservation..! Heads of arrows, stone mortars, and other Indian relics, 
have frequently been found in that vicinity, thus confirming the tradition 
of a settlement thereabouts. 

We have now no means of knowing how many of the aboriginees still 
lived here at the time of Mr. Ward's settlement, but circumstantial evi- 
dence indicates that they were few in number. In but few of the early 
accounts of the native inhabitants is any mention made of any tribe or 
tribes at this place ; and where mentioned, it is as a remnant — the last 
few — of a once vigorous tribe. On the other hand, the wording of the deed, 

o Colonial Records— 1. t N^ow called Pen tucket Cemetery. 

tOne of the workmen npon the occasion drank a bumper of punch to the memory of the original 
inhabitants, /row one of the skulls thus l/)-oiiffhl to light ! 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 43 

and the small sum paid for the large extent of territory, strongly favor the 
conclusion that but two families of the natives then remained." It is 
probable that the terrible pestilence of IGlo, in its desolating march from 
the Kennebec to the Narragansett, included the Pentuckets among its vic- 
tims, and left only a few to await the approach of civilization. The rude 
marks upon this deed, are the only memorial we have left of the aboriginal 
inhabitants of Pentucket. They have faded away. As leaves before the 
chilling frosts, so have they fallen and withered before the breath of civil- 
ization, and silently sunk into the graves of their fathers. 

Soon after the settlement of the place, it was named Haverhill, in 
compliment to Mr. Ward, who was born, as we have mentioned, in Haver- 
hill, Essex County, England. 

At the session of the General Court, in the succeeding June, (1641) 
" Mr. John Woodbridge, Matthew Bayse, John Crosse and George Giddings, 
they four, or any three of them, are appointed to set out the bounds of 
Salisbury and Pentucket, alias Haverhill ; they are to determine the 
bounds which Mr. Ward and his company are to enjoy as a towne or vil- 
lage, if they have six houses tip by the next General Courte in the 8th 
month," [October.] We must not suppose from this, that six houses had 
not as yet been erected, because, as we have seen, twelve persons (and 
probably most of them men of families) had already been here a year, 
and had, within that time, received considerable accession to their numbers. 
It would be strange indeed if they had not, by that time at least, double 
the required number of houses erected. We should interpret the act of 
the General Court as specifying the smallest number of dwellings that 
should be reckoned as a town or village, rather than as declaring that so 

» To shoTv that Havevhtll was not' psculidr in this respect, we may refer tu Newbury and Ipswich, once 
without dowljt the home of a large tribe of Indians. 

Newbury was settled la the spring of 1633, but the first intimation of any Indians, eitlicr by record or 
tradition, is in IGii, wlien a parcel of land was allotted to one "John Indian." The next mention is in 
1330, when "Great Tom, Indian," sold to the selectmen of Newbury "all his right, title, and interest 
in all the woods, commons and lands in Newbury, together with his three acres of planting land as it is 
fenced in one entire fence in Newbury, lying near Indian Hill." Thei-e is no other notice of either of 
these Indians. The next intimation of any Indi.ans in that town, is in 1661, when the family of " Old 
Will" is referred to, which was in 1G63 the only Indian family in the town, and consisted of himself, wife, 
and three daugiiters. 

From a report made to the General Court in 1676, it appears there were then, " at and about Ipswich, 
eight men and seventeen wonien and children, Indians, and at Dunstable, Wonolancet's company of about 
sixty persons." 

Coffin, in his valuable History of Xcwhuri/, sa.js: — " However large the population of this region 
might once have been, it is certain that from various causes the race had become nearly extinct, when the 
white population had determined to occupy the territory, thus providentially vacated ; and it was with 
the " knowledge, licence and good liking" of the few that remained, that the first settlers took possession 
of this then howling wilderness." 



44 HISTORY OF nAVERIIILL. 

many as six houses had not as yet been erected in this new plantation/"^ 
At the time the town was first settled, it was covered with the thick, and 
in many places almost impenetrable woods of the primitive forests, except- 
ing the lowlands, or meadows. There were no pleasant fields, nor gardens, 
nor public roads, nor cleared plats. Except where the timber had been 
destroyed, or its growth prevented, by frequent fires, the groves were thick 
and lofty. The Indians so often burned the country, to take deer and 
other wild game, that in many parts of it there was but little small timber. 
The meadows had been partially cleared by the Indians long before the 
arrival of the white settlers, and were covered with a heavy growth of 
grass, which grew remarkably thick and high. The Indians were accus- 
tomed to set this grass on fire each autumn, so that they might the more 
easily kill the deer which came to feed upon the young grass the succeeding 
spring. On account of the grass, these lands were prized very highly by 
the first settlers, as from them they procured hay for their flocks and herds. 
In the early settlement of this, and other New England towns, these 
meadow lands were divided into small lots and distributed among the set- 
tlers. In many cases the " meadow lot " was several miles distant from 
the house of the owner, and as roads and other conveniences of travel and 
transportation had not as yet been introdaced, we can easily imagine that 
"haying" was then a much moi*e laborious and expensive matter than 
now. After being cut and cured, the dried grass was piled in stacks on 
the meadows, and left until winter, when it was hauled home on sleds, by 
oxen. 

The forests were filled with the various kinds of birds and small ani- 
mals peculiar to New England. The worst enemy, of the beast kind, to 
the infant settlement, was the wolf. These gave a great deal of trouble, 
and at one time had become so bold and troublesome, that a large plat of 
ground was enclosed near the common, and used as a pasture for the sheep. 
Shepherds were appointed to watch over them, and at night they were 
closely folded, as a still greater security. Even after the town had become 
([uite extensively settled, these voracious prowlers did much and frequent 
damage by their depredations, and the town at various times offered liberal 
bounties for their destruction. 

Though only twelve persons composed the first party of settlers in the 
town, their numbers were soon increased by the arrival of others. Of 
those who arrived in 10 10 and IGll, we arc able to give the names of only 

° A newspaper story writer (18^52) says, that in the autumn of IMl there were only six houses in he 
town. We presiinio his statement is founded np m thi abnvp mentioned vote of the General Conrt, 



HISTORY OF IIATEIiniLL. 45 

Job Clements (sou of Eobert), Jolin Favor, and Hugh SheiTatt, though 
we are confident that several others came as early as the spring of 1G41. 

The winter of 1641-2 was unusually severe. Boston harbor was frozen 
over so deeply that it was passable for horses, carts, and oxen for six 
weeks. 

The first recorded birth in the town was that of John Eobinson, (son of 
John) who survived but three weeks. The second birth was also a son of 
the same, in 1 642, who lived but one week. The third child born, was 
Deborah, daughter of Tristani Cofiin. in 1G42, who lived only six weeks. =•' 
The simple record of these early deaths in that little community, consid- 
ered in connection with the exceeding severity of the preceding winter, 
and the known cares, anxiety and labor that always attend a first settle- 
ment, even under the most favorable circumstances, clearly and most 
touchingly tells of denials, exposures, and life-destroying hardships. 

Hardly had the little company commenced life in their new home, when 
intelligence was received bj^ the Governor, from Connecticut, (September, 
1642) that "the Indians all over the country had combined themselves 
to cut off the English."! 

The time appointed for the massacre, was soon after the harvest. The 
Indians were to divide themselves into small parties, and visit the houses 
of the principal men for the professed purpose of trading, while others 
concealed themselves in the vicinity. At a given signal, those in the 
houses were to fall upon the owners, slay them, and seize upon their weap- 
ons, while the concealed party were to rush in and assist in completing 
the bloody work. 

Upon the reception of this intelligence, it was thought advisable, by the 
Governor and Council, to disarm all the Indians within our jurisdiction. 
A warrant was accordingly sent to Ipswich, Eowley and Xewbury, '• to dis- 
arm Pasaconnaway, who lived by Merrimack." The next day forty armed 
men were sent for that purpose, although it was the Sabbath, and a heavy 
rain was falling. On account of the rain, they could not reach his wig- 

""■ The following gives the number i.!" births ami deaths in the town each year, from 1641 to 1061, so far 
as given in the town records : 



BIKTHS. 



1 in 1641 


Sin 


164S 


10 ii 


1655 


2 " 1042 


•• 


L04i) 


ff '• 


1650 


1 " 104;! 


7 " 


1050 


12 " 


1657 


1 " 1644 


11 " 


1651 


11 ' 


1658 


;$ " 1645 


10 " 


1652 


8 ' 


1659 


6 " 1046 


10 ' 


165:^ 


11 ' 


1600 


5 " 1647 


10 ' 


1654 


n ' 


lOGl 


t Winthrop, 2- 


-7S-87 









DEATHS. 



1 in 1041 


1 in 1051 


2 in 1058 


2 '• 1642 


2 " 1052 


4 " 1G5<» 


1 " 1646 


1 " 105:1 


,S " 1000 


1 " 1047 


" 1054 


1 " 1001 


1 " 1648 


5 " 1057 


8 " 1602 


2 " 1050 







46 HISTORY OF irAVERHILL. 

warn, but came to his son's, and took him and his squaw and child 
prisoners. On their return, they led the son with a line, for fear of his 
escape. He, however, eluded their vigilance and escaped into the woods. 

Upon learning of this unwarrantable proceeding, the Governor and 
Council immediately sent a friendly messenger in search of Passaconna- 
way, to inform him that the capture of his son and his family was without 
their orders, and also to tell him the reasons why they had disanned the 
Indians in their jurisdiction. The woman and child were also sent back. 
The mission proved successful, and in a few days the chief sent his oldest 
son to deliver up his guns to the English. 

No massacre of the kind was, however, perpetrated ; but it was after- 
ward ascertained that such a plot had existed, headed by the chief of the 
Narragan setts. 

Though the town was settled and houses erected in 1640, it was not 
until more than two years afterward that a title to the land was purchased 
of the Indian owners. As it was usual for the Massachusetts settlers to 
buy the land they wished to occupy, we are left in doubt as to the reason 
why the Haverhill men did not sooner make such a purchase. The most 
reasonable solution we can give is, that when the white settlers first came 
to Pentucket there were no Indians living here ; and that afterward one 
or two families, descendants, perhaps, of the original owners, straying back 
to their old hunting and fishing grounds, and finding them in possession 
of the " pale faces," had laid claim to the land ; or else that the number 
of Indians living here was so small that they were not considered worth 
noticing at all, until the startling intelligence of the intended massacre 
suggested the purchase as a security against molestation from the Indians 
near them. At any rate, the fact that the purchase was made within the 
next month after the above-mentioned information first reached the Colony, 
would seem to indicate some such a condition of things. The following is 
a correct copy of the original deed, ■' of which we also give a perfect fac- 
similie. 

•• Know all men by these presents, that wee Passaquo and SaggaHew 
with ye consent of Passaconnawaj^ : have sold unto ye inhabitants of Pen- 
tuckett all ye lands wee have in Pentuckett ; that is eyght myles in length 
from ye little Eivver in Pentuckett AVestward: Six myles in length from 
ye aforesaid Riwer northward : And six myles in length from ye foresaid 

OThe original document was for a, long time in the possession of the descendants of William White, 
one of the witnesses to the deed, but at the suggestion of the writer, it has recently been presented to the 
Town of Haverhill, by E. A. Porter, Esq., administrator of the estate of the late Charles White, Esq . 
As it was originally given to " the inhabitants of Pentuckett," it seems appropriate and proper that it 
ehould b? in the possessim of the Town, and wo are pleased to annotinc'e that it hns bcfu s.i disposed of. 



OF HAVERHILL, MASS 




FACSIMILE OF THE INDIAN DEED OF THE TOWNSHIP ^p HAVERHILL MASS 




1 



As ^^^ (^'^^-^^uxS ^j^^A 






€ 



^ 



i 



i 




i.s 



?^ 




Ki 






£i.~ 



HISTORY OP HAYERHILL. 



47 



Eivver Eastward, with ye Ileand and ye rivver that ye ilcand stand in as 
far in length as ye land lyes by as formerly expressed : that is, fourteen 
myles in length : And wee ye said Passaquo and SaggaHew with ye con- 
sent of Passaconnaway, have sold imto ye said inhabitants all ye right 
that wee or any of us have in ye said ground and Ileand and Eivver : 
And wee warrant it against all or any other Indeans whatsoever unto ye 
said Inhabitants of Pentuckett, and to their heires and assignes forever 
Dated ye fifteenth day of november Ann Dom 1642. 

Witnes our hands and scales to this bargayne of sale ye day and year 
above written (in ye presents of us,) wee ye said Passaquo & SaggaHew 
have received in hand, for & in consideration of ye same three pounds & 
ten shillin<i;s. 



John WcitlI 
Robert Clements 

Tristram Coffin 
Hugh Sherratt 

William White 



ye signe of (1) 

o 

Thomas Davis 



Passa'^uo 



ye marke of 
(A how and arrow.) 
Passaquo. 



ye marke of 

(A how and arrow.) 

Saggahcw. 



[seal.] 



Saggahew. 



[seal.] 



On the side of it the following is written : — •' Entered and recorded in 
ye County Records for Norfolk (lib. 2d, pa. 209) yc 29th day of April 
1671 As attest The. Bradbury Eecorder. 

Eecorded ye first of April 1681 among ye records of Lands for Essex 
at Ipswich : As attest Eobcrt Lord Eecorder." 

On the outside it is endorsed, " The purchase from the Indians by Ha- 
verhill men, Recorded." 

In 1680, the deed was copied into the Town Eccords, and the following 
testimony, taken by Nathaniel Saltonstall, is written on the succeeding 
page. 

" The Eev. Teacher of ye church & towne of Haverhill, Mr. John 
Ward ; & William White and Tho. Davis do testifie that Haverhill towne- 
ship or lands then by ye Indians called Pentuckett, was purchased of ye 
Indians as is mentioned in ye deed in this paper contained, which is en- 
tered upon record and that wee were then inhabitants at Haverhill and 



48 UlSTOliy OF HAVERHILL. 

present with ye Indians Passacjiuo and Saggabew (who were ye apparent 
owners of ye land & so accounted) did signe and coufirme ye same ; and 
that then, wee, (with others now dead) did signe onr names to ye deed, 
which land wee have ever since enjoyed peaceably without any Indian 
molestation from the grantors or their heirs. Taken upon February ye 4rth 
1680 before Nath. Saltonstall. Assist." 

" Lieut. Brown and Lieut. Ladd both affirm upon oath that what is 
entered in the records for Haverhill as the deed of purchase from the In- 
dians of Haverhill Township or lands, of which the deed above written is 
a true copy, was, and is a true copy, extract, or transcript of the original 
deed given by the Indians. Taken upon oath, February the 4th, 1680. 
Before me, Nath'l Saltonstall. Assist." 

The following brief biographical notices of the witnesses to this import- 
ant instrument, will doubtless be read with interest. 

Of John IVard we have already given an extended notice, and will only 
add, that he married Alice Edmunds, in 1646, by whom he had two chil- 
dren, Elizabeth and Mary (•■■). His wife died March 24, 1680. 

Eobert Ch'msrd came from England, in the early part of 1642, landing 
at Salisbury, from whence he came to Haverhill sometime in the fol- 
lowing summer, with his wife and four children — John, Lydia, Eobert 
and-Sarah. Job, his sou, came as early as 1640-1, doubtless to "spye 
out the land." His youngest daughter, Mary, remained in England (in 
the city of Coventry, in Warwickshire) imtil about 1652, Avhen she also 
came over to Haverhill, and was soon after married by her father to John 
Osgood, of Andover, Mass. 

liobert, senior, was the first Dei)uty of the town to the Oeneral Court, 
and until 1654 ; was associate Judge; County Commissioner ; " appointed 
and empowered by the General Court to give the oath of fidelity to the in- 
habitants of Haverhill ; " appointed to set oiT the public lands, fix their 
limits, &c. He was a man of rare integrity, and superior talent, as may 
readily be judged from the responsible stations he was repeatedly called to 
fill. He died on the spot where he first settled, in 1658, aged about 



° Elizalifth, bom April 1, 1047, and died April 19, 1714; Mary born June 24, 1649, died Oct. 11, 108,1. 
Ulizabcth married Natluinicl Saltonstall, Dec. 2S, 1003, and had five children :, — 
fturdon, born March 27, 1060, died in 1724. 
Elizabeth, born September 17, 1068. 
Richard, born April 25, 1072, died April 22, 1714. 
Nathaniel, bom September 5, 1074. 
John, born August 14, 1076, died October 2, lOSl. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



a 

49 



68 (■■'). He owned, when he died, the first grist-mill built in town. His 
son Eobert, whom Mirick confounds with Eobert sen., was a cooper by 
trade, and the first one in town. In 1652 he married Elizabeth Fane, by 
whom he had eleven children. He held several town offices, was a large 
landholder, and lived near where the " Exchange Building" is now situ- 
ated. We have not ascertained the time of his death, but he was living 
in 1684. His wife died in 1715. 

Job was a tanner (probably the first in town), and married Margaret 
Dummer — the first marriage in town. 

John, was a farmer, and married Sarah Osgood. 

The Clements for a long time occupied a prominent position in the town 
and county, and their descendants have ever been considered as among our 
best citizens. Several generations of them have lived on the place now 
owned by Jessee Clement (in the North Parish) , who is a lineal descend- 
ant from Eobert sen. 

Tristram Goffyn was born in 1609, in Brixham parish, town of Ply- 
mouth, in Devonshire, England. He was the son of Peter and Joanna 
Coffyn. Tristram married Dionis Stevens, and in 1642, after the death 
of his father, he came to New England, bringing with him his mother, f 
his two sisters, Eunice and Mary, his wife, and five children (Peter, Tris- 
tram, Elizabeth, James, and John). 



o " The inventory of Mr. Robert Clements, his goods and estates in \ew England, excepting some small 
debts which cannot yet be accompted, he died ye 29th of Sept., 1658. 



£ s. d. 

Iny his wearing apparel! 16 18 00 

It (") his purse, money, silver, seal and 

ring 1 07 00 

It by one bill owing him 55 00 00 

It one paver of Steers 3 06 08 

It twenty bush.41 of rie 10 00 00 

It one cuw and 30 lbs of rie 5 00 00 

It one bill 8 15 00 

It one bill 12 15 00 

It one bill 56 00 00 

It one bill 5 00 00 

It one bill 06 06 00 

It one bill 14-00 00 

It one bill 02 03 06 

It one bill 04 00 00 

It one bill 07 12 00 

It one engMgement of rent for land 05 00 00 

It 4 cows, 2 steers, one heifer 22 00 00 

It 3 mares, 1 philli, 1 hoss, 1 colt 69 00 00 

It 3 cows 10 00 00 

It in swine, calves and sheep, 10 15 00 

It in bedding 25 13 00 

It a psU (t) of cotton wooU it cotton 

varne, sheeps wooll, canvers & 

fethers 03 01 00 

It on carpett, warmg pan, & cotton cloth. 01 10 00 

t Who died in Boston in 16G1, aged 77. Rev. John Wilson preached her funeral sermon, and "em- 
balmed her memory." — Sewall. 

7 



£ B. d. 

It his dwelling honsei accommodations.. 55 00 00 

It 8 loads of hay & a psU linen cloth 05 00 00 

It his grist mill 30 00 00 

It one payer of oxen 12 00 00 

It a psll of boards & two stocks of bees. .02 13 00 
It wooden vessels and earthen vessels & 

one spade 01 16 00 

It cotton and linen yarn 02 10 00 

It one debt 3 tr 03 00 00 

It one debt of 10 tr 10 00 00 

It in wheat it Indian com 02 10 00 

It for chests, Tunnes & cards Potts & 

kettles 4 17 00 

It several things, viz., fier shovel & tongs 

Andyrons spitt. plough 05 17 16 

It chayns & such like Iron things 

It in books fowling piece, table cloth and 

napkins 03 18 00 

These goods were apprized by us whose names 
are under written. 

Teist. Coffyn, 
Willi White. 



'■' Item, 
t ParceL 



50 HISTORY OF IIATERIIILL. 

He came to New England early in the Spring of 1642, in the same ship 
with Eobert Clements, and landed at Salisliury, from whence he came to 
Haverhill sometime during the following summer. He seems to have set- 
tled near Mr. Clements, and tradition has it that he was the first person 
who plowed land in Haverhill. 

JNIirick says, that " in the following year he removed to the Eocks, 
where, in 1645, he was liscenced to keep an ' ordinary,' or tavern — hence 
the name ' Coffin's Ordinary.' " If, by the " Eocks," he means the place 
then called by that name, and afterward designated as "Holt's Eocks," 
(just below the bridge at Eock's Village) he is evidently mistaken in the 
locality. Mr. Coffyn was licensed "to keep an ordinary a^ Netoherry" 
and also to " keep a ferry on Ncwbery side over ^Merrimack, when the 
interest of Gleorge Carr shall be determined, and that George Carr shall 
have liberty to keepe his boate going on Salisbery side." 

The place where Mr. CoflFyn settled was in Newbury, opposite what has 
since been called Carr's Island — so called from the above-named George Carr. 
Mirick gives the date of the license as 1645, and Coffin (Hist. Newbury) 
1644"; but we cannot find it in the Colonial Eecords of either year. 
Coffyn was first licensed on the 26th of May, 1647, and, as we have above 
mentioned, to keep an ordinary "at Newberryf." He probably removed 
there about that time. 

Although Mr. Coffyn was the person licensed, it seems that 3frs. C. did 
sometimes " help, aid, and assist," as we find that in 1645, she was "pre- 
sented" for " selling beere at 3d a quarte," contrary to the law in such 
case made and provided, which required four bushels of malt to the hogs- 
head, and that it should be sold at 2d per quai-t.j j\lrs. Coffyn made it 
" appear to the Court " that sJie put in six bushels into a hogshead, where- 
upon the Court acquitted her ! 

" He also gives the same under the date of Decemlier 26, 1G47. 

t It would seem, however, that there was a place in the easterly part of this town, known as Coffin's 
Ordinary, about 1652. In that year, a second division of upland was made, in which James Davis re- 
ceived forty acres, one piece of which was bounded as follows : " By James Davis sen. on the west ; the 
great river on the south ; on the north side a swamp ; on the east a brook ; the other part bounded by a 
red oak at Colfrn's ordinary runninj? up that brook to a lilack oak, James Davis sen. on the east ; tlie 
great river on the south. 

J Some of the regulations concemin<f taverns, or ordinaries, are worth preservinj;; and as matters of 
curiosity and illustrations of the manners and customs of " ye olden time," we give some of them. 

In 1631, it was ordered by the General Court, " that noe pson that keepes an ordinary shall take 
abQvc vj d a meale for a pson, and not above J d fir an ale quarte of beare, out of meale tjine, under 
the penalty of x s for eury offence, cither of dyet or beare. Likewise, that victulars, or keeps of .^n ordi- 
nary, shall not siiffVr any tobacco to be taken into their houses, under the penalty of vs for eury offence, 
to be payde by the victular, and xij d by the party that takes it." 

Tobacco was evidently far from bcinq; the popular weed of these more modern times. Even its pri- 



HISTORY OF HAVEllHILL. 51 

Mary, daughter of Tristram, married Nathaniel Starbuck, at Nantucket, 
and all accounts agree in representing her as an extraordinary woman. 
In the language of John Eichardson, an early writer, " the Islanders 
esteemed her as a Judge among them, for little of moment was done with- 
out her." It was her custom to attend their town meetings, where she 
took an active part in the debates, usually commencing her address with 
" my husband thinks " so and so ; but Eichardsou says, that " she so far 
exceeded him in soundness of judgment, clearness of understanding, and 
an elegant way of expressing herself, and that not in an affected strain, 
but very natural to her, that it tended to lessen the qualifications of her 
husband." In 1701 she became a Quakeress,'' took the spiritual concerns 
of the whole Island under her special superintendance, was speaker in 
their religious meetings, wrote the quarterly epistles, and was distinguished 
in every relation in life. Eespecting her domestic economy, the same 
author observes : " the order of the house was such in all the parts thereof 
as I had not seen the like before ; the large and bright-rubbed room was 
set with suitable seats or chairs, [for a meeting] so that I did not see any 
thing wanting according to place, but something to stand on, for I was not 
free to set my feet upon the fine cane chair, lest I should break it." Mary 
died in 1717. She had six children. The descendants of Tristram 

vatc use was ' ' regulated," as will appear from the folloiving : " further, it is ordered, that noe pson shall 
take tobacco publiquely, under the penalty of ij s vj d, nor privately, in bis oinie howse, or in the howse of 
another, before strangers, and that two or more shall not take it together, any where, under the aforesaid 
penalty for eiiry offence." In 1637, "upon many sad complaints that much drunkeness, wast of the good 
creatures of God, mispenee of preaious time, and other disorders have frequently ftillen out in the inns, and 
common victualing houses," the Court ordered that " it shall not bee lawfuU for any persoue that shall keepe 
any such inne, or common victualling house, to sell or have in their houses any wine, nor strong waters, nor 
any beare, or other drink other than such as may and shall be souled for Id the quarte at the most." 
The Court also ordered that no beei- should be brewed by any innholders or victualers, but only by lisenced 
brewers, and that even they should not " sell nor utter any beare, or other drinke, of any stroilger size 
than such as may and shall be afforded at the rate of 8shs the barrell. 

It does not appaar, however, that these " JIaine Laws " put a stop to the use of either tobacco or " strong 
water : " and the Court the next year relaxed the severity of the last named regulation, so as to allow 
innkeepers and victuallers to brew their own beer. Two years after, they repealed the " orders about re- 
straint of beer," and permitted it to be sold at 2d a quarts which was the rule when Mrs. Coffyn was 
called to account in 1645. 

* Since writing the above, we have found the following interesting paragraph in a Boston Paper, (Sep- 
tember, 1859) : •' Narcissa B. Coffin of Nantucket, a well known minister of the Society of Friends, was 
in Beverly for a short time on the 22d ult. She had just returned from Vermont and Upper New York, 
where she had been engaged in visiting prisons, houses of bad repute, and almshouses, preaching the 
Gospel to the inmates, sometimes with great hopefulness, many of the outcasts of society seeming glad to 
hear of a Saviour. Mrs. Coffin is a granddaughter of Joseph Hoag, niece of Lindley Mui-ray Hoag, and 
daughter of Hannah Butrey, all of them well known and highly i-espected ministers in the Society of 
Friends. Joseph Hoag had a large family, aU of whom, both sons and daughters, with their companions 
(except two) were preachers. Mrs. C. is the wife of Dr. Alex. G. Coffin, a worthy Fritnd, and a lineal 
descendant of Tristram Coffm, one of the first settlers of Nantucket, who moved thither from Haverhill 
about two hundred years ago. 



62 HISTOEY OP HAVERHILL. 

Coffin are very numerous ; among them was the distinguished Admiral 
Sir Isaac Coffin ; - more than twelve thousand of that name were supposed 
to he in the United States thirty years ago. 

Hugh Sherratt came from Ipswich, in 164:1, with Mr. Ward and John 
Favor. In 1650 a house lot was granted him " over the little river," from 
which we presume that he settled in that part of the town. As he was to 
leave open a highway, " both by that and the great river," it would seem 
that the location must have been in the vicinity of the westerly side of 
what is now Washington Square, near the site of the " South Church." 
At the time this lot was granted him, he, with several others, had laid 
down his lot in the (Pond) plain. 

From the fact that his name frequently appears in the Court records as 
defendant in actions for debt, we judge that he must have been one of 
those whose talent for accumulating property was not large. In 1662, he 
was permitted to keep an ordinary, and to sell " strong water and wine at 
retail." From this we should infer that he was a man of sobriety and 
respectability, as in those days only such persons were permitted to occupy 
so responsible a position. But his hard luck seems to have followed him 
through life. In 1677, then in his ninety-ninth, year (his little remain- 
ing property having been illegally taken from him,) the poor old man was 
compelled to ask relief from the town. Then, as now, willing and prompt 
to support its poor and needy, the town agreed with Peter Brewer to keep 
him for five shillings per week, one half of which was to be paid in bread- 
stuff, and the other in meat. Upon a motion " to know who would lend 
corn, or meat, to the town, for the support of Hugh Sherratt ; and they 
to be paid by the next town rates ; several engaged as foUoweth ; Kobert 
Emerson, bacon ; Joseph Emerson, beef, 6 lb. ; Daniel Ela, beef, 12 lb. ; 
Samuel Grile, beef, 6 lb ; Henry Kingsbury, Indian, 1 ; John Page Jr, 1 
Ind. and meat 2 lb ; Thomas Eaton, 1 8 lb meat or com ; Eobert Ford Jr, 
1-2 Ind ; Bartholomew Heath, pork 4 lb; Thomas Davis, pork 4 lb, but- 
ter 1 lb ; Michael Emerson, pork 4 lb ; Thomas Whittier, turnips 1 ; 
Kobert Ayer, pork 6 lb ; Daniel Hendrick, meat 2 lb ; Peter Ayer 3 lb 
meat or corn; Thomas Ayer Jr, 1 lb meat." 

Considering that the town had now been settled nearly forty years, the 
very small amounts specified in this loan excite our surprise. We can 
hardly imagine that the time should ever have been when the loan of a 
single pound of beef, or butter would have been deemed a notable thing, 
and worthy of a place in the records of a town. Yet it was so. 

o Admiral Coffin lately established a school at Nantucket, for the chiUlrcn there who are descendants 
from his anccstcr Tristram. The building was calculated for six hundred, but eight hundred young 
CoflBns presented themselves! — Boston Paladium, July, 1829. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 53 

: The town was not however, long called to bear the burden of supporting 
the aged patriarch. The next year he reached the uncommon age of one 
hundred years, and, ere its close, was laid to rest. He died September 
6th, 1678, aged 100 years. 

William White, whose name is attached to the deed, was one of the 
pioneer band of settlers in the town, and came here from Newbury. He 
was born in 1610, and came to New England in 1635, settling at Ipswich. 
He subsequently went to Newbury, and finally settled in this town, being 
as we have seen, one of the first company of settlers. He died September 
28, 1690, aged 80. His widow soon after removed to Ipswich, where she 
died in 1693. Mr. White settled on the farm now owned by Mr. James 
D. White, and we find that he owned a farm in Newbury in 1650. Soon 
after the church was gathered, he became a member, and was one of its 
firmest pillars ; he had the honor of the town very much at heart, and was 
esteemed by its citizens, and was frequently entrusted with its most im- 
portant business. His descendants are exceedingly numerous, and are 
scattered in almost every direction over the United States. In his will, 
which is dated 2d January, 1683, he says : "I give to the Eev. Mr. Ward, 
my Teacher, in Haverhill, 10s. in silver; I give to the church of Haver- 
hill, of which I am a member, the linen cloth which is on the communion 
table, and one of the pewter dishes which was mine, which was used 
at the sacrament, and to be kept for that use only so long as it may 
serve with decency for the common good of that society. My will is, that 
the girl which was given to me by the girl's mother to breed up, if my 
wife will keep her untill John White [his son] marry, let her keep it, 
otherwise John White to put her out to sum one who will bring her up in 
good nurtour ; if afterward she live with John till she is 1 8 years of age, 
or day of marriage, the said White is to cloth her well, and to give her 
five pounds. I give to Edward Brumidge a cloth jacket, and britches, and 
a shurt, all of mine own wearing." The amount of his property taken 
after his decease, was £508, 10s. * 

o This WiUiam White had one son, John, who m. Hannah French at Sakm. on Aug. 25, 1662 and d. 
Jan. 1, 1663-9, aged 29 leaving one son, John, b. March 8, 1664, m. Lydia Oilman, da'r of Hon. John Gil- 
man of Exeter, Oct. 24, 1637, and had manj- sons and da'rs, " whose descendants are exceedingly numer- 
ous." He d. 1727. Said John and Lydia had sons William, Samutl, JVicholas. Timothy, (gradn. 
Harv. Col. 1720) James and John, and da'rs Mary (pa. to James Ayer of Hav'U 1710) Hannah (m. to 
Rev. Samnel Phillips of Anilover 1712) i'/teafecf/i, (m. Rev. Amos Maine of Rochester) Abigail, (ni. 
to Moses Hazcn 1728) was mother of Gen. Moses Hazen, — Lydia, (m. to Nath'l Peaslee, Esq.,) and 
Joanna. The last named William T(7u'<e m. Sarah Phillips, sister of sd. Samuel Phillips, June 12, 
1716, and had sons William, (merchant in Boston) iSaniwe/, (Esq'r in Hav'll) John, (of Methuen, d. 
1800 seg 80) Timothy (bookseller in Boston) Phillips, (of Southampton, N. H., Judge of Prob.,— Mem- 
ber of Congress) and da'rs Mary (m. Rev. John Chandler, BiUerica) and Sarah (m. Col. Wm. Thomp- 



54 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

Thomas Davis, whose mark is affixed to the deed was a sawyer, from 
Marlborough, England, and, wc believe, a brother of James, one of the 
first company of settlers. He married in England, before emigrating to 
America. He came to Newbury in 1641, and settled in Haverhill early 
in the spring of lG-i2. He died July 27, 1683.- His wife died April 7, 
1668. He had one son (Joseph) who died September 15, 1671. f 

son of Billerica). Samuel White, (bro. of the Wm. who m. Sarah Phillips) m. Ruth Phillips, another 
sister of Rev. Samuel Phillips, and was fathei of Jofin White, Harvard College, 1751, and gr'd father of 
Hon. Leonard White— R. C, 1787. 

<» Coiiiu and Mu-ick, speak of the descendants of Thomas Davis as very numerous, but we think they 
must be mistaken. The only child of his mentioned in the Town Records, is Joseph, who died in 1671. 
The niunerous descendants referred to, are, we think, rather those of James, brother of Thomas ; and of 
John, an early settler in Newbury. John died in 1G75. He had seven children, and his descendants are 
'• very numerous," as are also those of James. As early as 1720, there were no less than nineteen fami- 
lies of that name in town. 

t Joseph, son of Thomas, was doubtless a wild boy, if we may judge from one of his capers. Under 
the date of 1052, the Portsmouth Court Record thus refers to him: "Whereas it doth appear that Joseph 
Davis of Haverhill was presented for putting on women's apparel and going from house to house in the 
night time, with a female, and whereas the said parties being removed from Haverhill into this jurisdic- 
tion, and being apprehended and brought into the Court at Strawberry Bank ; the said Joseph Davis is 
judged to pay a fine of eight shillings, and also to make public acknowledgement of his fault on a lecture 
day, before the next Court, in default of which he shall forfiet forty shillings more." We may charitably 
presume that the unpleasant termination of his nocturnal adventure suspended his pursuit of pleasure in 
that direction, at least. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 55 



CHAPTEE VI. 



FROM 1643 TO 1G49. 



MiRiCK, in his history, says, " the first lawful town-meeting was holden 
this year " (1643). He doubtless based his decision upon the fact that no 
record is preserved of any previous meeting of the inhabitants, but from 
the fact that allusions are made to things done by them previous to that 
time, we think it is correct to say that meetings were held as early as the 
first year of the settlement. They were not, it is true, technically speak- 
ing, ^ow?? -meetings, — ^because the plantation was not incorporated until 
1645, — but were meetings of the inhabitants of the 'plantation, at which 
was transacted all business relating to the plantation, as such. The fact 
that a. note to the minutes of the first meeting recorded, mentions the lay- 
ing out of land to Mr. John Ward, fourteen months previously, seems to 
us conclusive, that the settlers held regular meetings from the first. While 
the inhabitants were few, there was but little general business necessary 
to be done by them, and that little could be so easily remembered, it was 
hardly necessary to make a record of it. But as the settlers multiplied, 
and their affairs became more complicated, they wisely made provision for 
a regular record to be kept of all their doings in their collective capacity. 
About this time, also, the G-eneral Court passed a law requiring a record 
of births, marriages, and deaths to be regularly kept in each town ; and at 
the May tei'm of the Court, (1643) the colony was divided into four coun- 
ties, Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. Haverhill was assigned to 
Norfolk, which was composed of Salisbury, Hampton, Haverhill, Exeter, 
Dover and Strawberry Bank, (Portsmouth).- At the same Court, a tract 
of land containing six hundred acres was granted to Mr. Nathaniel Ward, 
father of John Ward, " near Pentuckett, or as near as conveniently may 
be." The Court also granted to Haverhill "a parcel of meadow -land 
about six score acres more or less, west of Haverhill about six miles." 

Under these circumstances, Richard Littlehale was chosen "clerk of the 
Writs," and " town Recorder,"! and commenced a regular record of 
the births, marriages and deaths, in the town, and also the proceedings of the 



* The Courts were hoUlen alternately at Salisbury and Hampton. 

t He continued in office till 1661:. The Cjurt of Writs was a small Court established in town to try 
such causes tis did not exceed forty shillinors. It was soraetimss called the Court for " small causes : " and 
frequently the Clerk of tb» AVrits and Town Recorder were filled by one person. 



66 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

inhabitants at their regular meetings. The date of the first meeting thus 
recorded, is November 6, 1643, and the first vote passed was to prevent an 
unnecessary destruction of timber. 

The following is a correct copy of the vote: — " Voted that no man 
shall fall or cause to be fallen any timber upon the Coraon but what he 
shall make use of within nine months next after it is fallen or other- 
wise it is and shall be forfieted." At the same meeting they voted, "that 
there shall bee three hundred acres laid out for houselotts and no more ; 
and that he that was worth two hundred pounds should have twenty acres 
to his houselott, and none to exceed that number ; and so every one under 
that sum, to have acres proportionable for his houselott, to gether with 
meadow, and Common, and planting ground, proportionably." This land 
was laid out east of Little River, where the village stands, and was called 
an " accommodation grant." 

An important movement of this year (1643) was the " Confederation of 
the New England Colonies." The original movement toward a confeder- 
ation proceeded from the western colonies, and the first proposal came from 
Connecticut. At first Massachusetts was indifi'erent to the measure, but 
at the General Court in May, commissioners presented themselves at Bos- 
ton from each of the three colonies, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New 
Haven, and the Governor, with two magistrates and three deputies, were 
authorized to treat on the part of Massachusetts.'-' At first the commis- 
sion encountered some difficulties, but " after two or three meetings they 
lovingly accorded," and agreed upon the terms of what, for important 
purposes, was for many years a Federal Government of the New England 
Colonies. 

The year 1643 is also memorable from a great earthquake, which hap- 
pened on Sunday, March 5th. " It came with a rumbling noise, but 
through the Lord's mercy it did no harm."t It was also a year of want 
and hunger. "Corn," says Winthrop, "was very scarce all over the 
country, and many families in most towns had none to eat by the end of 
April, but were forced to live of clams, muscles, dr^'^-fish, and so forth, but 
the merchants had great success in the sale of their pipe staves and fish." 
The Trial, of Boston, "made a good voyage, which encouraged the 
merchants, jyid made wine, sugar and cotton very plentiful and cheap in 
the country. Our supplies from England failing much, men began to look 
about them, and fell to a manufacture of cotton, whereof we had store 
from Barbadoes, and of hemp and flax, wherein Eowley to their great 
commendation exceeded all other towns. "+ 

o Winthrop, 2—99. t Winthrop, 2— 93. t Winthrop— 2 : 94. 95i 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 57 

On the fifth of July " there arose a sudden gust at northwest so violent 
for an hour as it blew down multitudes of trees. It lifted up their meet- 
ing house at Newbury, the people being in it. It darkened the air with 
dust, yet through God's great mercy it did no hurt, but only killed one 
Indian with the fall of a tree. It was straight (narrow) between Linne 
(Lynn) and Hampton."- There was little rain this winter, and no snow 
till the third of march, the wind continuing west and northwest near six 
weeks."! 

At a Town-meeting, holden the 6th of the following February, it was 
voted, "that all landholders shall pay all publique rates according to their 
number of acres that they hold to their houselotts ; and if any man shall 
buy one acre of meadow, one acre and halfe of planting ground, or one 
acre of commonage to his houselott, he shall pay proportionably for every 
acre or commonage with the houselott." 

The former historian of the town, in referring to the above vote, says : 
" It will be perceived that the landholders only paid the public taxes, and 
that each man was rated according to the number of acres in his " house- 
lot," and not according to the property he possessed." We wonder that 
he should have been so careless in his statements. A reference to the vote 
of the November preceding will show that the number of acres of each 
house-lot depended entirely upon the number of pounds the settler was 
worth. In other words, a man was granted land, and paid taxes, accord- 
ing to the amount of property he possessed. 

At the meeting of February 27th, it was " voted that Job Clement 
should have a parcell of ground, not exceeding one quarter of an acre at 
the Mill Brooke, being bounded forth by the Free-men to sett him up a 
tann-Jioiise and tann-fatts upon, to him and his heirs forever." 

The Mill Brook referred to, is the small stream running from the outlet 
of Plug Pond to the Eiver, and which has retained the same name to the 
present time. We have been unable to find any particular mention of a 
mill upon it at that early period, but its being thus called renders it quite 
certain that a mill (doubtless a corn-mill) had already been erected upon 
it. It is worthy of note, that from that time to the present, the stream 
has been occupied for the same purpose. 

Job Clement, was a brother of Kobert, one of the witnesses to the 
deed, and was the first tanner in town. His tannery was erected near 
the mouth of the brook. As we mentioned in regard to a mill, so may we 
say in regard to a tannery, that one has constantly existed upon the stream 
from that time to the present. 

o Winthrop— 2 : 124. t Winthrop— 2 : 155; 

8 



58 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

September 19th, " two churches were appointed to be gathered, the one 
at Haverhill, the other at Andover (both upon Merrimack river) . They 
had given notice thereof to the magistrates and ministers of the neighbor- 
ing churches, as is the manner with them in New England. The meeting of 
the Assembly was to be at that time at Kowley, (the forementioned planta- 
tions, being then but newly erected, were not capable to entertain them that 
were like to be gathered together on that occasion) . But when they assembled 
most of those who were to join together in church fellowship at that time, re- 
fused to make the confession of their faith and repentance, because, as was 
said, they declared it openly before in other Churches, upon their admis- 
sion into them. Whereupon the messengers of the Churches not being 
satisfied, the assembly brake, before they had accomplished what they in- 
tended. But in October, 1645, messengers of Churches met together 
again, on the same account, when such satisfaction was given, that Mr. 
John Ward was ordained pastor of the Church in Haverhill, on the North 
side of the said Merrimack, and Mr. John Woodbridge was ordained pastor 
of the Church at Andover, on the south side of the same.''- 

The first marriage in town was that of Job Clement and Margaret Dum- 
mer, who were married on the 25th December. The second marriage was 
that of G-eorge Corlis and Joanna Davis, on the 26th of Oct., 1645.f 

Among cotemporary matters of interest at this period, we may mention 
the following : On the 5th of June, two ministers' sons, students in Har- 
vard College — James Ward, son of Nathaniel Ward, (and brother of 
John Ward of Haverhill) and a son of Kev. Thomas Welde of Eoxbury, — 
being found guilty of robbing two dwelling houses in the night time of 
eleven pounds in money, and thirty shillings worth of gunpowder, " were 
ordered by the governors of the college to be there whipped, which was 
performed by the President himself." This was the first punishment of 
the kind within the walls of old Harvard. 

In those days fish were commonly made use of by farmers in the vi- 
cinity of rivers and fishing places, as manure for the corn, (a practice 
copied from the Indians) , and from the following extracts, it would seem 
that"doggs" were not only very numerous, but troublesome. The Ips- 
wich records contain the following : 

o Hubbard, 41G : Wintbrop, 1G7. 

t During tbe twenty years succeeding tbe first marriage, (that is from lOM to 1064), there were thirty, 
seven marriages in town, viz :— 1 in 1644, 1 in 1645, 2 in 1646, 2 in 1647, 2 in 1648, 2 in ]6J0, 2 in 1652 
1 in 1655, 2 in 1656, 1 in 1657, 2 in 1659, 1 in 1660, ,3 in 1061, 5 in 1662, 10 in 1663. 

It is probable the above includes also those inhabitants of the town who were married out of the town. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 59 

" May 11. It is ordered that all doggs for the space of three weeks 
after the publishing hereof, shall have one legg tyed up, and if such a 
dogg shall break loose, and be found doing any harm, the owner of the 
dogg shall pay damages ; if a man refuse to tye up his dogg's legg, and hee 
be found scraping up fish in a corn field, the owner thereof shall pay 
twelve pence damages, beside whatever damage the dogg doth. But if 
any fish their house lotts and receive damage by doggs, the owners of 
those house lotts shall bear the damage themselves," 

The following is from the Exeter records : 

"May 19, 1644. It is agreed that all dogs shall be clog'd and side- 
lined in ye day, and tied up in ye night, and if any dogs shall be found 
trespassing in the lots, they that shall find them shall showt them." 

Wolves were also troublesome about this time, as we find in the records 
of Exeter, Hampton, and Newbury, large bounties were offered for every 
wolf killed.'-' 

" The winter of 1644-5 was very mild, and no snow lay, so as ploughs 
might go most part of the winter, but on February sixteenth there fell so 
great a snow in several days as the ways were unpassable for three weeks, 
so as the court of assistants held not." f 

Jan. 13, 1645, the town "Voted, That every inhabitant that will, may 
make upon the common for every acre of house-lott which he hath, one 
hundred of pipe-staves and no more ; provided he fall no timber for the 
same within two full miles of the houselots." 

The penalty for a violation of the above vote was five shillings. 

At the town meeting of March 14, 1645, it was voted, " that every in- 
habitant may keep for every acre that he hath to his house lott, either an 
horisc beast, ox, or cow, wth a foale or calfis, wth a year old, a two year 
old, and a three year old, until they shall be of the age of three years and 
an halfe, upon the commons appointed by the greater part of the freemen 
and no more." 

What was then called the commons, were such lands as were not granted 
to any individual. 



'•^ So serious had the matter become, that in June, 1645, the General Court declared that : " Whereas, 
great losse and damage doth hefal this commonwealth by reason of wolves, which doe destroy so great 
numbers of our catle, notwithstanding provision hathe formerly beene made by this court for suppressing 
of them, and wee find little hath binn donne yt way for ye better incouraging of any to sett about a work 
of so great concernment, itt is therefore ordered, yt any person, either English or Indian, yt shall kill 
any wolf or wolves within tenue miles of any plantation in this jurisdiction, shall have for evry wolfe by 
him or them so killed, tenne shillings, to be paid out of the treasury of ye county." — Col. Rec. 3: 17. 

t Winthrop 2 : 210. 



60 



HISTORY OF HAYERHILL. 



There were in town this 
landholders, viz : — 
John AVard, 
Eobert Clement, 
Job Clement, 
John Clement, 
Joseph Merrie, 
Abraham Tylor, 
Hugh Sherratt, 
Henry Savage, 
Christopher Hussey,-' 
Daniel Hendrick,'-' 
John AVilliams,--' 



year, as near as can be ascertained, thirty-two 



Rich^d Littlehale,'' 
AVilliam Butler, 
John Ayer, sen., 
John Ayer, jun., 
Joseph Peasley,"-' 
William "White,- 
John Eobinson," 
Henry Palmer,'* 
Thomas Davis, ■•* 
George Corliss, 
Nathaniel Wier,'"' 



James ¥iske, 
Thomas Hale,*^ 
James Davis, sen.''* 
James Davis, jun.," 
John Eaton, 
■Bartholomew Heath,'' 
Tristram Coffyn, 
Daniel Ladd, 
Samuel Gile,-' 
John Davis. =■■' 



Those names which have a =■•= attached to them were from Newbury. 

George Corliss came from England to Newbury about the year 1639, 
being at the time about twenty-two years of age. He is believed to be the 
first one of the name who came to this country, and the ancestor of most 
if not all of that name in New England. He married Joanna Davis, Oct, 
26, 1645, by whom he had one son and seven daughters." 

Corliss was an enterprising and industrious man, and well qualified to 
take a prominent part in the settlement of a new town. He settled in the 
West Parish, on the farm of the late Ephraim Corliss, — now owned by his 
son Charles, who is of the seventh generation from the original grantee, — 
and at his death was possessed of a large landed property. He owned 
most of the land on both sides of the old " Spicket Path," as it was then 
called, for a distance of more than three miles, 

John Rohinson was a blacksmith, and came with the first settlers in 
1640. In 1657 he bought a house-lot in Exeter, and soon after removed 
to that place. 

The plantation of Haverhill was this year incorporated into a town, 
being the twenty-third town settled in the colony. 

The first church was gathered in the summer of this year ; it consisted 
of fourteen members, eight males and six females ; and Mr. John Ward 
was ordained their pastor. Johnson, an early writer, says : — " The Town 
of Haverhill was built much about this time, lying higher up than Salis- 
bury upon the fair and large Eiver of Merrimack : the people are wholly 
bent to improve their labor in tilling the earth and keeping of cattel. 



° John, the son, married Mary Milford, Dec. 17, 1684, by whom he had four sons and two daughters. 
His son John was the father of thirteen children. 



•^ o 




, ^.=,^i 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 61 

whose yearly increase encourages them to spend their days in those remote 
parts. The constant penetrating further into this "Wilderness hath caused 
the wild and uncouth woods to be filled with frequented wayes, and the 
large rivers to be overlaid with Bridges passeable both for horse and foot ; 
this Town is of a large extent, supposed to be ten miles in length, there 
being an overweaning desire in most men after Meadow land, which hath 
caused many towns to grasp more into their hands than they could after- 
ward possibly hold ; the people are labourers in gaining the goods of this 
life, yet they are not unmindful also of the chiefend of their coming 
hither, namely, to be made partakers of the blessed Ordinances of Christ, 
that their souls might be refreshed by the continual income of hi§ rich 
grace, to which end they gathered into a church-body and called to office 
the reverend Mr. Ward, son to the former named Mr. Ward, of Ipswich. 

With mind resolved run out thy race at length, 

Young Ward, begin, -whereas thy father left, 

Left hath he not, but breaths for further strength, 

Nor thou, nor he, are yet of hope bereft ; 

Fruit of thy labours thou shal see so much. 

The righteous shall hear of it, and rejoyce 

When Babel falls bj' Christ's almighty touch. 

All's folks shall praise him with a cheerful voice. 

They prosper shall that Zion's building mend, 

Then Ward cease not with toyle the stones to lay. 

For great is he thee to this work assigned. 

Whose pleasure is, heavens Ciowu shall be thy pay."* 

At this early day, the houses of the settlers were all ou or near the 
present site of the village, while their meadow, and upland (or ploughing 
land) lots, were located in various parts of the town. Each man received 
a number of acres in the village for a " house lot." The size of this, as 
we have seen, was dependent on the amount of property he possessed. In 
addition to the house-lot, each man received a portion of meadow, and 
planting land, the number of acres being regulated by the size of the 
house lot. The meadow and planting lands were often several miles dis- 
tant from the house lot. In course of time, as the country became more ' 
thickly settled, and the land cleared up, many of the settlers removed 
from the village to their planting land. A natural desire to have all their 
land as nearly in one body as possible, led to the frequent buying, selling 
and exchanging of lots, and in course of time, the lots, or fca-ms, of the 
settlers, became more compact ; and, as their wealth increased, their num- 
ber of acres also increased. « 

° This church was the 26th gathered in the colonv. 



62 HISTORY OF IIAYERUILL 

As a specimen of the manner in which the land was first distributed, 
we copy the following from the records of the town : — 

1659 "Daniel Ladd's'-^ accommodations. Six acres of accommoda- 
ations: Four acres to his house lot ; more or lessf : Eobert Clement's 
bounding on the east, and Henry Savage on the west. Five acres in the 
plain : AVilliam "White on the east and John Williams on the north. 
Nine acres up the great river, Thomas Ayers on the cast and George 
Browne on the west. Four acres of meadow in the east meadow, more or 
less ; Joseph Peasly on the south, and George Browne the north. One 
acre and a half of meadow in the pond meadow ; James Davis sen on 
the south, and Eobert Clement jun on the north. One acre of meadow at 
Hawkes meadow ; John Davis on the south, and Thomas AVhittier on the 
north." 

"Daniel Ladd's 2d division, containing 27 acres of upland, be it more 
or less ; with sixteen acres of ox-common and a half, bounded by George 
Corley and John Hutchins on the west; by a black oak, a white oak, a 
red oak, and a walnut on the south ; by a walnut and a white oak on the 
east, by two white oaks and an ash on the north. Three acres of meadow 
lying on Spicket Eiver, bounded by Thomas Davis on the south, and Eob- 
ert Clements on the north : and one spot of meadow at Primrose swamp, 
and another spot at the east meadow, at the head of the meadow that 
was John Davis's adjoining to his own. For the land that was taken 
off Daniel Ladd's 3d division, we added a piece on the north side of the 
highway round the meadow that was Goodman Hale's bounded by the high- 
way and Merrie's Creek. Third division of meadow containing 3 acres, 
be it more or less, bounded by John Page on the south, a pine on the east, 
his own uplands on the west, and uplands on the north of the said 
meadow, lying in mistake meadow." 

Daniel Ladd doubtless found farming quite a different thing from what 
most farmers of the present day find it. His house lot was in the village ; 
his planting ground in two places, — a part of it " in the plain " from one 
to two miles east of the village, and the other part " up the gi'cat river,'' 
at least as far, on the west of the village — while his meadow lands were 
in seven lots, and as many distinct meadows. East meadow was in the 
easterly part of the town, three miles from his home lot, while Spicket 

° Daniel Ladd, m. Ann . Children: Mary, b. Feb. 14 1646; Samuel, b. Nov. 1, 1649; Nath'l 

b. Mar. 10, lor.i, d. (of wounds) Aug. 11, '91 ; Ezekiel, b. Sept. IC, 1654 ; Sarah, b. Nov. 4, 1657. 
He died July 27, '93. She died Feb. 10, '94. 

t The "more or less " refers to the rule adopted by the town of making up in quantity what might be 
lacking in the quality of any lot. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 63 

meadow was at least eight miles in the opposite direction. Pond meadow 
was two miles northeast ; Hawkes' meadow some three miles west ; Prim- 
rose swamp two miles northwest ; and mistake meadow somewhere in the 
westerly part of the town. 

When we reflect that in those days "highways" were at best hut prim- 
itive cart paths, through the woods, with stumps still standing, hills 
ungraded, and streams unbridged ; and that the land was new, rough, and 
worked only by great labor, we may have a faint idea of some of the hard- 
ships of our first settlers. Had they not been men of iron nerve, tireless 
muscle, and indomitable energy and perseverance, our now beautiful town, 
with its unsurpassed mosaic of cultivated fields, green hills, smiling lakes, 
its majestic river, and murmuring streams, would still be but a waste and 
howling wilderness, the home of wild beasts, and the hunting gi'ound of 
the miserable aboriginee. 

At a town meeting on the 13th of January, 1646, it was voted that the 
inhabitants should have liberty to make one hundred pipe staves, on the 
common, for every acre which his house-lot contained ; and " that they 
should fall no timber within two miles of any of the house lotts." If a 
person felled a tree within the prescribed limits, he was to pay five shil- 
lings, which was to be appropriated for the benefit of the town ; or, if he 
felled any more than was required to make his proportion of staves, he was 
to pay the same sum. 

It is pleasant to observe the great respect, and even veneration, in which 
our fathers held their minister, or as they more frequently called him, 
their Teacher. It not only speaks well for the Christian virtues of the 
man, but for the sturdy moral character of his people. An early manifes- 
tation of their regard for Mr. Ward is found in the following vote of 
October 29, 1646: — 

" Voted by all the freeholders then present at a lawful town meeting, 
that Mr Ward our Teacher's land shall be rate free for his ministry dur- 
ing his life, if he continue minister to the plantation, provided he use it 
himself, but if he sell, let, or set any of it to hire, it shall pay rates pro- 
portionable with our own : And that forty pounds p. an. shall be paid him 
by the remainder of the 300 acres'- for his ministry," 

At this meeting the first selectmen were chosen ; they were Thomas 
Hale, Henry Palmer, Thomas Davis, James Davis and William White. 

In looking over the records of this early date, we find that Goodman 
was a common appellation among the men, excepting when they addressed 

* That is, the three hundred acres previously laid out for house lots. 



64 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

their minister, magistrate, or a militia officer above the grade of Lieuten- 
ant ; to such they applied the title of Mister. Goodivife, or Goody, were 
terms applied to women, excepting when addressing the wives of those 
above mentioned, whom they called iMadam. Mrs. was placed before 
names of both married and unmarried women, when it was written, — 
which was not so frequent as at present. 

Hugh Sherratt was this year licensed by the General Court *' to draw 
wyne by retaill at Haverhill, paying tenn shillings p ann rent therefore to 
ye countrye." •' 

In order to avoid all cause of complaint on account of unequal rates of 
taxation in the several towns, the General Court, at the November session 
of this year (1646), adopted the following schedule of rates : — 

" Cowes of four year ould and upward, 5£ ; heifers and steers betwixt 
3 and 4 year old, 4£ ; heifers and steers betwixt 2 and 3 year ould, fifty 
shillings ; and between 1 and 2 year old 30s ; oxen 4 year old and up- 
ward, 6£; horses and mares 4 year old and upward, 7£ ; 3 year ould 5£ ; 
betwixt 2 and 3 year ould, 3£ ; yearlins 2£ : sheope above a year ould, 
20s ; asses above a year ould, 2£." 

Houses, lands, and all other visible estate, real or personal, was to be 
valued according to what they were worth in the several places where they 
were, proportionable to the above prices for cattle, &c. Hay and corn 
growing were not to be rated. Towns were required to choose one of their 
freemen, who, with the selectmen, should yearly make a true valuation of 
all such ratable property in their several limits. This was the origin of 
♦' assessors " as town officers, f 

Attending town meetings was evidently considered by our ancestors as 
a duty each voter owed to the community in which he lived, and for the 
neglect of which he deserved punishment. They even considered tardi- 
ness in attending as meriting rebuke, as we find by the record of February 
13, 1647, that John Ayer, sen., and James Fiske were fined " for not at- 
tending the town meeting in season." 

oCol. Rec. 3—109. 

t Choosing Selectmen is of earlier date. In 1636 tlie General Court enacted, that "everj' particular 
township should h:ive power over its own aiiairs, and to settle mulcts upon any offender, upon any public 
order, not exceeding twenty shillings, and liberty to choose prudential men, not exceeding seven, to order 
the affairs of the town." 

These men were at first called "the seven men," then "towne's men," then "towne's men select," and 
finally " select men." Says the Rev. Richird Brown, in his diary, " they were chosen from quarter to 
quarter by papers to discharge the business of the town, in taking in, or refusing any to come, into town, 
as also to disjwse of lands and lots, to make lawful orders, to impose fines on the breakers of orders, and 
also to levy and distrain them, and were fully empowered of themselves to do what the town had power 
for to do. The reason whereof was, the town judged it inconvenient and burdensome to be all called to- 
gether on every occasion." 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 65 

From the following entry in tlie records of tlie General Court, May, 
1647, it appears that the justices, or commissioners, of the Court of the 
Writs, or courts to try " small causes," were chosen by the several towns, 
subject to the approval of the General Court : 

" The town of Haverell having chosen Robert Clements, Henry Palmer, 
and Thorn: Hale to end small causes, they are alowed." 

At the same court John Osgood (Andover) and Thom: Hale were ap- 
pointed to "lay out the way from Audiver to Haverell; and James 
Davis, jun., and Antho: Staniell from Haverhill to Excetter. " They also 
appointed " a committee to view ye ryver, and make returne to ye Courte 
of ye necessity and charge of a bridge." 

The river above referred to was doubtless the Merrimack. Though the 
committee were instructed to report to the next session of the Court, we 
cannot find that they did so, or that any report was ever made upon the 
matter. A bridge was not built at Haverhill until nearly a century and a 
half afterward.-' 

The inhabitants this year petitioned the General Court for a tract of 
land to enlarge the town. The following is the answer of the Court, which 
was holden at Boston, 27th October : — "In answer to the petition of 
Haverhill, ye Courte concieving such vast grants to be greatly prejudicial 
to ye publick good, and little if at all advantageous to particular townships, 
apprehending 4 miles square, or such a proportion, will accommodate a 
sufficient tract of land ; in such a case thinke meete a Committee be chosen 
to view the place and returne their apprehensions to ye next General 
Courte, to which end, with the petitioners consent, they have nominated 
Mr. Dummer, Mr. Carlton. John Osgood, and Ensign Howlet, or any two 
of them, provided Ensign Howlet be one to do it."f 

At the same court it was ordered that every township in the jurisdic- 
tion numbering " fifty householders, shall then forthwith appoint one 
within their towne to teach all such children as shall resort to him to 
write and reade, whose wages shall be paid either by ye parents or masters 
of such children, or by ye inhabitants in general, by way of supply, as ye 
. major part of those that order ye prudentials of ye towne shall appoint ; 
provided those yt send their children be not oppressed by paying much 
more yn they can have ym taught for in other towns ; and it is further 
ordered, yt where any towne shall increase to ye number of 100 families 
or householders, they shall set up a grammar school, ye mr thereof being 

° 1794. 

t Richard Dummer, of Newbnrj"; Edward Carleton, of Rowley; John Osgood, of Andover: and 
Ensign Howlet, of Ipswich. 

9 



66 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

able to instruct youth so farr as they may be fitted for ye university, pro- 
vided, yt if any towne neglect ye performance hereof above one yeare, yt 
every such towne shall pay 5£ to ye next schooll till they shall perform 
this order." 

This order of the General Court was the beginning of our now world- 
renowned system of common schools. Haverhill did not at that time con- 
tain the specified number of householders, and was consequently exempt 
from the requirement. We do not find that a school was commenced here 
until fourteen years afterward, and for many years subsequent to that time 
a teacher was not regularly employed, according to law. 

At the same court town marks were assigned to each town, for marking 
cattle, &c. That of Haverhill was the letter H, which was to be put 
upon the near quarter. 

The following order was also passed: "Ye court being informed that 
the soldiers of Haverhill are destitute of any officer to exercise them, it 
is therefore ordered by this court, that all ye inhabitants, who have a right 
to vote in ye election of officers, to meet and choose some meet person for 
the place of Sergeant to exercise them." 

This is the first notice we find of a military company in this town, 
though a company, or *' train band," was doubtless organized soon after 
the first settlement of the town, — the laws of the Colony requiring such a 
company in every town. As early as 1631, such companies were obliged 
to train every Saturday. Not only were the able-bodied men required to 
take part in this duty and exercise, but, by a law of 1645, all youth from 
ten to sixteen years of age, were ordered to be "instructed upon ye usual 
training days, in yc exercise of armes, as small guns, halfe pikes, bowes 
and arrowes, &c." Soldiers were obliged to furnish their own arms, for 
which they were allowed to exchange produce in lieu of money. If any 
under thirty years of age were destitute of means to purchase, they could 
be bound to service to earn and pay for the same The constant danger of 
attacks and surprises from the Indians, compelled the Colony to adopt 
these vigorous measures, and provide every possible means for their defence. 
Every town had its train-band, and its arrangements and signals for alarms, 
rendevous, and organization in case of sudden attack ; watches and scouts, 
were almost constantly employed ; and so imminent was the danger, that the 
inhabitants never ventured to church without their arms. The men were 
the last to enter the church, and the first to come out after service, and always 
occupied seats nearest the door or aisles, that they might the more readily 
repulse an attack. This was the origin of the present almost universal 
New England custom of allowing the wives and daughters that part of the 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 67 

pew farthest from the entrance, and their remaining after service until 
the fathers and sons have first retired. The custom is, however, slowly 
becoming obsolete. 

At this early period there was no bell in town to call the people together, 
and, as a substitute, the town voted that " Richard Littlehale should beat 
the drum on the Lord's day morning and evening, and on lecture days, 
for which, and also for writing public orders, he is to have 30 shillings ; 
he is also to beat the drum for town meetings." 

This year the settlement began to extend northward. Grants of land 
were made to Henry Palmer and others, in the plain north of the Pond- 
meadow. A few houses had been built near the spot where Stevens' fac- 
tory now stands ; and Gleorge Corliss had erected a log house on his farm 
farther west. 

Thomas Whittier, of Newbury, came into town about this time, 'and 
brought a swarm of bees, which were probably the first in the place. They 
were willed to him by Henry Eolfe, of Newbury, who calls them "his best- 
swarm of bees." At that time they were no mean legacy, and their arri- 
val was doubtless the " town talk." 

Job Clement was this year (January 30, 1647) made a freeman at the 
Ipswich Court, and sworn constable for Haverhill. He seems to have 
been the first constable in the town. 

Up to this time the town had no house for public worship. Tradition 
says that on pleasant -Sabbaths they assembled beneath the branches of a 
large tree that stood near the burial ground, and at other times they doubt- 
less assembled in private houses. The population had now become so 
numerous that it was decided to build a house for worship, and at the 
March meeting, 1(348, it was " voted that the Meeting House shall stand 
on the lower knowle at the lower end of the Mill Lot." 

What was then called the Mill Lot, was the ground now occupied by 
Pentucket and Linwood cemeteries. The house was erected and finished 
in the following autumn. It was twenty-six feet in length, twenty feet 
r^-j — V wide, and one story in height. It had neither 
gallery nor cupola. It stood facing the river, 
upon the slight elevation or knoll, about midway 
between the south and the north bounds of Pen- 
tucket Cemetery. It was underpinned with rough 
stones, and several persons now living can remember of seeing the ruins of 
the foundation. Mr. Eobert Willis informs us, that, in his early years, 
he could distinctly trace the size and position of the building by these 
foundation stones. 




68 



HISTORY OF nAVERHILL. 



At the September Court, 1647, the town was presented for not having 
a ferry, and at the next March term it was " enjoyned to provide a boat 
for the couvcuience of passengers " within a reasonable time, " under a 
penalty of -iOs and fees." The town immediately appointed Thomas Hale 
to keep the ferry. The price for feiTying was fixed at " one penny for a 
passenger, two pence for cattel under two years old, and four pence for 
such as were over that age." The ferry was established at the place still 
called the " old ferry-way," a little east of the foot of Kent Street. The 
inhabitants had from the first passed over the river at this place, but no 
regular ferryman was appointed until this year. 

At the town meeting March 3d, 1648, it was " voted that all men shall 
have liberty to fell, or to let stand, any tree or trees which standeth at the 
end of his lot, next the street or gxeat river: and if any man shall fell 
any such tree unto whom it doth not belong, he shall pay for every tree 
five shillings, to be paid unto him at the end of whose lot it did grow." 

What is now Water Street, was the first highway laid out. It was laid 
out on the bank of the river, and the lots were bounded on the south by 
the highway. The above vote allowed the owners of lots to fell any trees 
that stood at the end of their lots ; i. e., any trees in this highway opposite 
to their lots. Some years subsequently, the owners of these lots were 
permitted, during the pleasure of the town, to make use of the river as a 
fence to the end of their several lots. In the original grants, these lots 
were bounded •' on the highway and the great river," or to the river, " the 
highway excepted." We find no grants of land on the south side of this 
street until long after this time, and therefore believe that our ancestors 
did not intend it should be built upon. Robert Clement was this year 
chosen Deputy to the General Court at Boston, and was the first one sent 
from the town. 

From the records of Jan. 7, 1649, we learn that there had been com- 
plaint made by some that had had land out in the plain (between the 
village and chain ferry), that it was " not fit for improvement." The 
town therefore gave them liberty to "lay it down," and take up in some 
other place. 

At the meeting of February 18, " Thomas Hale was chosen Constable 
by the Freemen." This is the first constable mentioned in the town 
records, though, as we have seen. Job Clement was sworn into that office in 
1647, at the Ipswich Court. Hale was probably the first one chosen by 
the town. 

At the meeting of April 16, "it was acknowledged by John Eobinson 
that Daniel Lad had bought six acres of accommodations of him, which 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 69 

the town granted liim. Approved on hj the Selectmen." From this vote 
we learn, that at that time a settler could not sell the land which the 
town had granted him, without its consent. 

The town was this year ordered by the General Court to erect a watch- 
house, a pound, and stocks, immediately. We can find no vote in the 
Town Eecords relating to the stocks, or whipping post ; but that such 
means of punishment were erected, and often made use of, is a fact, as 
persons now living can testify. They stood at the east end of the old 
meeting house on the common, about ten rods north of the present south- 
ern entrance to the park, on the easterly side. The whipping post is de- 
scribed to us as being from twelve to fifteen inches in diameter, and set in 
the ground at an angle of about forty-five degrees. Upon the upper side 
of this post the culj)rit was tied, and the lashes applied with a " cat," of 
stout leather thongs. Mrs. Stebbins, now 82 years old, distinctly remem- 
bers witnessing the whipping of a man who broke into the store of Mr. 
Duncan, about the year 1784. His groans and cries made a deep im- 
pression upon her mind. She thinks it must have been about the last 
case of public whipping in the town. Moses Wingate, Esq., now 91 
years old, but hale and lively, remembers the whipping of a man, by 
Sheriff David Bradley. After it was over, the culprit coolly offered to 
"take as many more for a half-pint of rum." We do not learn that the 
offer was accepted. 

The stocks stood near the whipping post, the latter forming one end of 
the former. 

This year, that part of Eowley called Merrimack, was settled by John 
and Robert Haseltine, and William Wild. It was incorporated by the 
name of Bradford, in 1673. What is now Boxford, was then called 
"Rowley village. ";•■' 

An effort was made this year to induce Job Clement to remove to New- 
bury. The town of Newbury granted him a freehold " conditionally yt 
he live with us heere in Newbury exercising his trade four years, or as 
long as he shall live within that tearme, and also let the shoemakers of 
this town have the first proffer on the forsaking of his leather, making him 
as good pay as others." Job concluded to stay in Haverhill, notwith- 
standing the liberal offer. 

• A few years since Bradford was divided, the easterly portion taking tlie name of Grovelaud. 



70 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



CHAPTER VII. 



1650 TO 1659. 



The year 1650, the tenth after the first blow had been struck in the 
wilds of Pentucket, found the settlers well established in their new home. 
Their numbers had increased more than five-fold, and included men of 
character, wealth, and influence. They had their cattle, and horses, their 
meadows and cultivated fields, their mills and mechanics, their houses, 
their church, their minister, their town organization, and, in brief, were 
now fairly settled and pi'osperous. 

About this time two orchards were planted, one by John Clement, and 
the other by Stephen Kent. As near as can be ascertained, the former 
was situated a little north of the Cemetery, probably under the shelter of 
the adjacent hill ; and the latter near the house where the late Samuel W. 
Ayer lived. 

The necessity of definite bounds between the town and its neighbor, 
Salisbury, induced the inhabitants to prefer a request to the General Court, 
at Boston, to that efiect, and the Court appointed a commission for the 
settlement of the same.'-' 

At the same sessiou, Henry Palmer, Thomas Davis, and Job Clements, 
were appointed to " end small causes" in the town, and at the next ses- 
sion (May 22) Robert Clements was appointed and empowered to give the 
oath of fidelity in the town. Both these appointments were made at 
the request of the town.f A petition was also presented to the Court by 
the inhabitants, for " the graunt of an iland lying in the Rieur Meri- 
macke agaynst some parte of theire towne, coutayning about 20 or 30 
acors." In answer to the petition, the Court ordered " that theire request 
be graunted for the sajd iland, vnless Mr Ward or any other shall make 
any cleare title from this Court, to appear vnto this Court within three 
years, to the sayd iland." 

Among the votes of the town this year is one requiring that the name of 
every freeholder should be kept in the town's book, and that he be compelled 
to attend town meetings, when lawfully warned: — " and having lawful 
warning he is to come within half an hour after the meeting is begun, and 
continue till sunset if the meeting hold so long, under the penalty of halfe 
a bushel of Indian corn or the value of it." 

o Col. Eec., 3,— 196— t, 6, 19. t Ibid. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 71 

Considerable land was this year granted to individuals west of Little 
Eiver, on the Merrimack ; and Hugh Sherratt, Bartholomew Heath, James 
Fiske, and John Chenarie, had liberty to lay down their land in the plain, 
" and have it laid out over Little Kiver, westward." We are unable to 
account for the frequent taking up and laying down of land about this 
time, except upon the ground of mere fancy, or notion ; as, about the same 
time that the above named persons made the change referred to, Joseph 
Peasley had leave to lay down his land over Little Eiver, and take up in 
the plain, and Samuel Gild also made choice of land at that place. 

John Hoitt, a brick maker, removed from Ipswich to Haverhill some 
time during this year, the town granting him three fourths of an acre of 
land, and the "clay pitts," on condition that he become an inhabitant 
of the town. The clay pits alluded to, are situated in the West Parish, 
near the late Ephraim Corliss's, and are still known by that name. It 
would seem that the pits were already dug, and perhaps bricks made, when 
Hoitt came, but by whom cannot now be ascertained. Many of the bricks 
used in building the first houses in Massachusetts, were brought from 
Holland, and we need not wonder that the town should consider the settle- 
ment of a brick-maker worth a strong effort. 

In one of the land grants of this year we find mention of a " wigwam" 
in the town. It is also mentioned in 1660 and 1685. ' These are the only 
mentions or hints of the Indians, or of anything belonging to or done by them, 
that we can find in the early records of the town, save an " Indian wire " in 
Fishing Eiver (1664) and the "Indian Bridge" over Spicket Eiver.''* 
The wigwam wa§ an old and dilapidated affair, as in one of the places 
stated, it is spoken of as the " old wigwam that is, or toas,'' in or near a 
certain swamp. It was located in the west part of the town, " at the 
lower end of the far west meadow." 

The first mention we find of an ox-common, is in a vote of January 13, 
of this year, which declares that " the ox-common already appointed shall 
for the present be continued." About this time a dispute arose between 
the inhabitants of Haverhill and Salisbury, in relation to the bounds 
between the two towns. The latter (which then included what is now 
Amesbury) claimed more land than the former were willing to allow ; and, 
at a meeting in December, 1650, a committee was chosen to meet a similar 
committee on the part of Salisbury, and endeavor to agree upon the 
matter in dispute. The following is the vote: — "Voted, That Thomas 
Hale, John Clement, and John Davis, should meet with Salisbury men to 

" There is an allusion in the records of the General Court, of 1662, to " Old Wills planting ground," 
which must have been near the mouth of Spicket River, and on the east side of it. Old Will was probably 
one of the Wameset Indians, whose principal settlement was then near the mouth of the Concord River. 



72 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



consult ■with them concerning the bounds between them and us : and the 
town doth hereby give them power to agree with them if they can, and to 
lay out the bounds between us." 

This year there were forty-three freemen in town, nineteen of whom had 
taken the oath of fidelity. The following table contains the names found 
in the recorc^s of 1650 and previously, with the year in which the name 
first appears : and also the valuation of each man's property, according to 
the vote of November 6, 1643. Neither the date or valuation should, 
however, be considered as more than an approximation to the truth : — 



1641 John Favor," 




1646 Thomas Davis, 


100 


" John Eobinson, 




" Thomas Davis, 


100 


1642 John Ward.f 


£ 80 


" James Fisk, 




" Tristram Coffin, 




•' William Butler, 




" Hugh Sherratt, 


50 


" Bartholomew Heath. 


140 


" William White, 


50 


1647 Samuel Gile, 


40 


" Thomas Davis, 




1648 Thomas Linforth, 




" John Williams, 


80 


" John Eaton,. 


80 


1643 Abraham Tyler, 


60 


" Thomas Whittier, 


80 


" Eichard Littlehale, 


40 


1649 George Goldwin 




1644 Henry Savage, 




" Goodman Moice & 3 Sons, 


'« Job Clement, 




" Abraham ilorrill, 




1645 Christopher Hussie, 




" Christopher Lawson, 




" Daniel Hendrick, 


120 


" Eichard Ormsby, 


70 


" Henry Palmer, 


60 


" Wm. Hoklridge, 




" George Corliss, 




1650 Eobert Ayer, 


40 


1646 Thomas Hale, 




" John Ayer jun,^ . 
" Thomas Ayer, yn\ 
" John Chenarie^'^^^t' '-^ 


80 


" James Davis, 


200 




'« John Ayer, 


160 


»>Ai'A' 


" Daniel Lad, 


£ 40 


" George Browne, 


80 


" Joseph Peasley, 




" John Hoit, 




" John Davis, 




" Goodman Hale. 





The following table contains the valuation of those to whom house lots 
were laid out at various times, but whose names do not appear previous 
to 1650: — 



I, Eobert Clement, Sen, 


£ 50 


Thomas Eaton, 


£40 


* John Clement, 


35 


Edward Clarke, 


40 


-'Matthias Button, 


60 


Eobert Swan, 


30 


Steven Kent, 


200 


John Haseltine, 


40 


James Davis Jr, 


130 


John Johnson, 


90 


Peter Ayer, 


60 


John Carleton, 


90 


Eichard Singletary, 


60 


Joseph Johnson, 


50 


John Huckins, 


480 


John Page jun, 


40 



o Nnraes asainst which no amount is placed, are those of persons for whom we can find no record of a 
house lot being laid out. Some of them, if not all, probably purchased the right of others to lands. 

t We do not know whether these pounds were the English pounds sterling (sixteen ounces of silver) or 
the pound of Troy weight, (sixty-two shillings) but presume they were the latter. If so, each pound was 
equivalent to S<i.33. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 73 

Among the early settlers, were four brothers by the name of Ayer, John, 
Eobert, Thomas, and Peter. The former settled near the house of the late 
Capt. John Ayer, 2d, who was the sixth generation who lived on the same 
spot. The latter settled in the northwesterly part of the town, in the 
West Parish. Their descendants are very numerous, and are scattered 
throughout nearly every State in the Union. In 1700, it was supposed 
that nearly one third of the inhabitants of the town were of that name. 
They were mostly farmers. =•■= 

At a meeting of the town January 1, 1651, "It was agreed upon that 
such as have land in the plain or below the plain, butting upon the great 
river, should have liberty to make use of the bank next the river for a 
fence for the space of four years : and also such as have land over the 
little river, west, shall have the same liberty so far as Thomas Hale's lot. 

The plain here alluded to, was the one east of the village. Under date 
of January 12, 1651, we find the following: — " It was this day ordered 
that the ox-common which was formerly an ox-common, shall be for the 
use of them who live upon the east side of the mill brook, and for as many 
as will join with them." 

" Ordered that they that live upon the west side of the mill brook, shall 
have liberty to have an ox-common westward for them, and as many as 
will join with them, which common is to be laid out in a convenient place, 
as shall be judged meet by the major part of the town. 

That the town were anxious to have their numbers increased may be 
judged from the following vote of the same year: — "It was this day 
agreed that James Pecker should be an inhabitant with us, and that he 
shall have a four acre lot with accommodations proportionable to it, which 
lot is to be bought of Bartholomew Heath for eight pounds. James Pecker 
doth promise to come and be an inhabitant with us by June 1653." We 



** The following notes, taken from the Essex County Records and papers, will doubtless be of interest 
to the many persons of that name in the town: — 1656. John Ayer, or Eyer, of Haverhill, made a will 
March 12, 1656-7, He died March 31, 1657, and his will was proved October 6th of the same year. His 
children were John, Nathaniel, Hannah, Eebeca, Mary, Eobert, Thomas, Obadiah and Peter. He left a 
wife, named Hannah. 1668. Mary Ayers, aged 34; and Samuel Ayers, aged 45. 1671. Inventory taken 
of the estate of Benjamin Ayeo-s. 1672. John Ayer, late of Ipswich, was now of Quaboag. (There was a 
John Ayres in Ipswich as early as 164S.) 1679. John Ayer, or Eyer, late of Haverhill, now of Ipswich. 
Had a wife Mary. 1693. Samuel Ayers, aged 43 years, 1704. Jonathan Ayer, aged 65 years. 1711 . 
Eobert Ayres, of Haverhill, aged 86 years. 

In 1754, Major Ebenezer Ayer, of Haverhill, married Hannah, widow of James Scammon, of Saco, Me;, 
where he continued to reside. He had several children. — Vide Hist. Saco and Biddeford, p. 268. 

For the names of many others of this numerous family, see the Appendix to this volume. 

10 



74 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

presume that Pecker accepted the town's oflPer, as he came here soon after 
and continued to reside here until his death, in 1696.-' 

At the May session of tlie General Court, on petition of the inhabitants 
of Haverhill, a new committee was appointed to lay out the bounds of the 
town. Joseph Jewett was chairman of the committee. At a meeting of 
May 30th, the town voted " that Mr Clement, Jno Davis, Tho "VVhittier, 
and John Robinson shall go with Joseph Jewett about the laying out of 
the bounds of the plantation." 

It seems that the town committees chosen the previous year, had been 
unable to agree upon the bounds, and the commissioners appointed by the 
Greneral Court at that time had done nothing ; therefore, that body ap- 
pointed a new committee, who attended to the duty, and reported at the 
next October Court. Their report was approved. 

The only clue we have to the bounds thus confirmed, is contained in 
the following record of the General Court : — " This Courte haveinge for- 
merly grauntcd fowcr miles square for the boundes of Haverill, or such a 
ti*act of land, and did appoynt Joseph Jewett, John Haseltine, Robert 
Haseltine, and William Wilder, or any two of them, to lay out theire said 
boundes, which Joseph Jewett and William Wilder haveinge done accord- 
inge to the Courtes graunt, this Court (at the request of the inhabitants 
of Haverill) doth confirme theire said boundes, as they are now layd out 
by the persons above mentioned."! 

We regret that a more definite account of this first laying out of our 
town cannot now be found. It will be seen, however, (unless we empha- 
sise the phrase " or such a tract of land" ) that it allowed a much less 
area than was covered by the Indian deed ; and we wonder that the inhab- 
itants should so readily request the General Court to confirm the bounds 
reported. 

It was voted this year by the town, " that all the meadows shall be laid 
out by the 12th of June next, to each man his proportion according to his 
house lot." At the same meeting it was " Ordered that Hugh SheiTatt, 
Theophilus Satchwell,Bart Heath, James Fiske, and Daniel Ladd, shall view 
the upland that is fit to plough, by the last of March or the tenth of April 

' The only children of his recorded, are Mary, b. Sept. 5, 1652 ; Susanna, b. Dec. 17, 1054 ; A Daugl^- 
ter, b. Jan. 25, 1604, and d. Feb. 10, 1664. Some of their descendants are still to be found in the town, 
though their number is small. 

One John Pecker kept tavern in this town for many years, and was succeeded at his death, in 1757, by 
his widow. About 1760, the sanle tavern was kept by Matthew Soley for a short time, when it fell into 
the hands of Jeremiah P( ••kcr. Rartholomew Teckcr, a native of Haverhill, was one of Washington's 
"Life Guards." "Pecker's Hill," and " Pecker Street," will long perpetuate this name in the town. 

t Col. Rcc, .3—246. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 75 

next, and that they bring in their intelligence to the town by that time." 
It was also ordered " that all the undivided land, after all the meadows 
and second division of plough land is laid out, shall remain to the same 
inhabitants the proprietors of the three hundred and six acres, to every one 
according to honest and true meaning, all commons remaining in general 
to them." 

This last vote, it will be seen, plainly and unequivocally declares who 
were the proprietors of the common or undivided lands in the town, " ac- 
cording to honest and true meaning." They were the original purchasers, 
or grantees, of the township. Years afterward, when the number of in- 
habitants had greatly increased, the question of proprietorship in the 
undivided lands became a troublesome one, and for a long period was a 
prominent " apple of discord" in the town. Frequent disputes occurred 
between the " commonors " and the " non-commonors," which sometimes ' 
led to bloody noses and shaded eyes. The commoners held meetings by 
themselves for many years, and there are three large . books of about two 
hundred and sixty pages each, nearly filled with their proceedings. 

In the fall of this year, George Brown and Daniel Hendrick were ap- 
pointed to lay out the highway between this town and Salisbury ; and 
Theophilus Shatswell was appointed to join the men from Kowley, and lay 
out a road between that town and this. This road was approved of by the 
Court at Ipswich, in 1686, 

Up to this time, the town Were destitute of a saw mill, and were com- 
pelled to hew all" the boards and planks used for building ; unless, as is 
quite probable, these were brought from Newbury. In either case, the 
expense and inconvenience was very great, and attention was early directed 
to the establishment of a saw mill in this town, where both timber and 
water-power were abundant. 

The following votes fully reveal how important this matter was consid- 
ered by the inhabitants, and how anxious they were to have a mill of the 
kind erected: Dec. 1, 1651. " Voted and agreed upon by the inhabitants, 
that there should be a saw-mill set up by Isaac Cousins, and such others of 
this town as shall join with him : The town and they agreeing upon terms, 
viz. : That they shall not make use of any timber within three miles of 
the meeting house : Item. That all timber without the compass of three 
miles from the meeting house should be free for the use of the sawmill : 
they paying the twelfth hundred to the use of the town in general. Item. 
That the town for their use shall have boards and planks at three shillings 
per hundred for such pay as is merchantable. The town also reserving to 
themselves a liberty to make use of what timber they stand in need of, 
though it be without the three miles compass from the Meeting House," 



76 HISTOEY OF HATEKHILL. 

Dec. 15, 1651. " Granted by the major part of the inhabitants, that 
Isaac Cousins shall have a sixth part of a saw mill or mills : and that 
Mr. Clement," Job Clement, Stephen Kent, William White, and Theophi- 
los Satchwell shall join with him, together with any others that they shall 
agree with, Provided that Mr. Coffin f have liberty to have a sixth part of 
it, if he come to be an inhabitant in this town. This mill is to be set up 
upon the river, called Thomas Hale's river : "J " They are to make use of 
no timber that is within three miles of the meeting house ; except it be 
pines or hemlock : They are to pay to the use of the town every twelfth 
hundred : The inhabitants are to have what boards and planks they stand 
in need of, for their use for building and flooring at three shillings per 
hundred, in merchantable pay : This mill is to be set up by April fifty 
and three : They have liberty also if they see fit, to set up a second mill 
by April, fifty and four : If they set them not up by these times above 
mentioned, then this grant is to be disannulled : They have liberty to 
make use of any timber that is without the three miles compass from the 
meeting house : Also the town hath liberty to make use of any timber 
that is without the three miles compass for building or feuceing, or what 
else soever : The proprietors have power, if they see cause, to remove one 
or both of these mills up, or down the river." 

Dec. 16, 1651. " Voted and Granted by the inhabitants that there 
shall no saw mill be setup whilst these forementioned sawmills are going." 

At the same meeting a committee was chosen to lay out ground for the 
use of the saw mill, "for a Pen," which was to be " returned to the town 
when the saw mills are done." " A six acre house lot, with all accommo- 
dations proportionable," was granted to the above mentioned Isaac Cousins, 
" provided he live in the town five years following his trade of a Smith.'' 

Cousins did not, however, fulfil the conditions of the grant, and in 
1653, the town voted to give the land to John Webster, upon similar con- 
ditions. Cousins was the first blacksmith in the town. 

About this time the road now known as Mill Street was laid out ; and 
for more than a century it was " the great road " which led into the 
village. 

The second division of plough-land was laid out on the 7 th of June, 
1652. The proportion was four acres to one acre of house lot. This 
division commenced at the head of Pond Meadow, and extended north, 
east, and west. Forty-one persons received a share in the division. The 
lot-layers who laid it out, received the sum of two pence an acre for their 
services, or ten shillings each. Not a very extravagant sum, surely. 

« Robert Clement. f Peter Coffin, of Exeter. t Little River. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



77 



Following are the names of those who received a share in this division : 
" The lots or draughts for the second division of plough-land, with the 
number of each man's accommodation : — 





Acres. 






Acre< 


1 — John Davis, 


6 


22- 


— Daniel Hendrick, 




2 — James Fiske, 


4 


23- 


—Thomas Davis, 


8 


'3 — Matthias Button, 


6 


24- 


-Eichard Ormsbie, 


5 


4 — Bartholomew Heath, 




25- 


-Eobert Ayer, 


5 


5 — Abraham Tyler, 


4 


26- 


-Henry Savage, 


4 


6 — John Ayer, sen.. 


8 


27- 


—George Browne, 


10 


7 — Henry Palmer, 


9 


28- 


—William Holdridge, 


5 


8 — Edward Clarke, 


4 


29- 


-Mr John Ward, 


8 


9 — ^Kobert Clement, 


6 


30- 


—George Corlis, 


7 


10 — Hugh Sherratt, 


12 


31- 


-Theophilus Satchwell, 


6- 


11 — John Woodin, 


4 


32- 


-John Williams, 


8 


12 — Thomas Perry, 


5 


33- 


-John Chenarie, 


4 


13— Thomas Whittier, 


7i 34- 


-James Pecker, 


4 


14 — Stephen Kent, 


22i 


35- 


-Thomas Ayers, 


9 


15 — Joseph Peasley, 


12 


36- 


—Samuel Gild, 


10 


16 — John Ayer, jun., 


8 


37- 


—Daniel Ladd, 


6 


17 — Thomas Linforth, 


6 


38- 


-James Davis, jun.. 


10 


1 8 — Eichard Littlehale, 


4 


39- 


-Job Clement, 





19 — Isaac Cousins, 


Si 


40- 


-John Clement, 


8 


20— AVilliam White, 


7 


41- 


-James Davis, sen., 


10 


21 — John Eaton, 


10 









In the above division each man had " his proportion either in the quality 
or quantity of his lot, according to the discretion of the lot layers." 

At the September meeting of the same year, the town voted Mr. Ward, 
their " Teacher," a salary of fifty pounds. This sum, though a mere pit- 
tance, when compared with modern salaries, was really a very liberal salary 
for those times, and shows the strong attachment of the inhabitants to 
their pastor, and their readiness to give him an adequate support. 

The following liberal vote was also passed at the same meeting : — 

" Voted that if any one or more shall be disenabled from paying his pro- 
portion, that then the rest of the inhabitants shall pay it for him or them 
to Mr. Ward." The town evidently intended that fifty pounds should 
mean fifty pounds. 

AVhether the town had become dissatisfied with the drum or the drummer, 
does not appear, but it seems that instead of having Eichard Littlehale 



78 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

beat his drum to call the people together, it was voted " that Abraham 
Tyler shall blow Ids horn in the most convenient place every lord's day 
about half an hour before the meeting begins, and also on lecture days ; 
for which he is to have one peck of corn of every family for the year 
ensuing." 

The tooting of Abraham's horn did not, however, come up to their ex- 
pectations, for the next year the town fell back upon first principles, and 
ordered Edward Clark to beat the drum on the " Lord's days and lecture 
days." Perhaps the tone of Abraham's horn was not sufi&ciently musical, 
or, more likely. Abraham was not a skilful player upon that ancient in- 
strument. But as to whichever it might have been, we are left entirely 
free to conjecture, as the records maintain the most dignified silence upon 
the subject. 

The (xeneral Court this year changed the time for town elections from 
November to March of each year, and the latter month has, with the ex- 
ception of a single period, continued to be the month of the annual town 
meetings down to the present time. 

The County Court at Hampton, this year, fined Stephen Kent, of Haver- 
hill, £10 " for suffering five Indeans to be druncke in his house, and one 
of them wounded." He was also to pay for the cure of the wounded 
Indian. Stephen evidently considered the penalty too severe, and declined 
to pay it ; and the town petitioned the General Court upon the subject. 
The Court thereupon ordered " that Stephen Kent within one month shall 
pay the said tenne pounds to the selectmen of Hauerill, who shall there- 
with satisfy for the cure of the Indean." Even this did not satisfy Stephen, 
and he petitioned to have his fine reduced, but the Court was inexorable. 
Doubtless Stephen was careful afterward not to have any drunken " red 
skins " about his pi*emises. 

Among the list of donations this year to Harvard College is £4 7s from 
this town. 

A prison was this year built at Ipswich. It was the second in the 
colony. 

A mint was about the same time established at Boston, for coining sil- 
ver ; the pieces had the word Massachusetts, with a pine tree on one side, 
and the letters N. E. 1652, and III, VI, or XII, denoting the number of 
pence, on the other. The same date,(lG52) was continued upon all the 
coin struck for thirty years afterward. Massachusetts was the only colony 
that ever presumed to coin metal into money. A very large sum was 
coined, and the mint-master made a large fortune out of the commission 
allowed him for coining. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 79 

At a town meeting July 4, 1653, it was voted that " John Webster 
should enjoy that six acres of accommodation which was formerly granted 
unto Isaac Cousins, and is now returned into the Town's hands ; provided, 
that the said John Webster live here five years from the last of March 
next, following the trade of a blacksmith in doing the town's work, when 
they have occasion." Mr. Webster was the second blacksmith in town; 
he followed the trade, however, but four years, when he returned to New- 
bury. His brother, Stephen, a tailor, came into town soon after, from 
Newbury ; and is probably the ancestor of the AVebsters in this place. He 
was born in Ipswich, and moved with his mother, who married John Emery, 
sen., to Newbury. He had three brothers and four sisters. His brothers, 
John and Israel, remained in Newbury, and Nathan settled in Bradford. 
His mother, Mary, was a sister of Theophilus Shatswell ; John, his father, 
died in Ipswich, about 164r2.=-= The descendants of Stephen are very 
numerous ; they are found in almost every city and village in the Union. 

This year, the second division of meadow land was ordered to be laid 
out. There were forty-eight lots drawn. The names are the same as 
those given under date of 1652, except the following: — John Webster, 
Isaac Cousins, John Wooddin, 

The Island just below the village was also divided about the same time. 
The number of persons who drew lots in the division, was forty-five. The 
names, and the bounds of each man's lot, are given in the Commoners' 
book of Records, under date of 1727, which speaks of the plan as begun 
in 1653, and finished in the above year. 

A third division of upland, or ploughland, was also ordered to be laid 
out ; it was situated west and north of west meadow, in the West Parish. 

The wife of John Hutchins of this town was presented to the Court this 
year, for wearing a silk hood ; but, " upon testimony of her being brought 
up above the ordinary way was discharged." The wife of Joseph Swett 
was also presented at the same time and for the same ofi'ence, and was 
fined 10s. f 

It was a general custom of the inhabitants at this early period, to turn 
their flocks together into one pasture ; and we find that James George was, 
in 1652, appointed herdsman of the town, His salary was twelve shillings 
and six pence per week, to be paid in Indian corn and butter. He was 

* Coffin, Hist. Newbury. 

t Among the laws passed by the General Court in 1650, was one against " intolerable excess and brav- 
ery in dress." No person whose estate did not exceed £200 was permitted to wear any gold or silver lace 
or buttons, great boots, silk hoods, ribbons or scarfs, under a penalty of ten shillings. Swett was not, it 
seems, worth the £200; and his wife could not, therefore, be allowed the extravagance of a silk hood. 



80 HISTORY OF nAVERHILL. 

" to keep ye beard faithfully as a heard ought to be kept ; if any be left 
on the Sabbath when ye towne worship, they who keepe are to goe ye next 
day, doing their best indeavore to find them." He was not permitted 
to turn his flock into the pasture on the Sabbath, until the " second beat- 
ing of ye drum." 

A lot of land not exceeding, four-score acres, was the same year granted 
to the proprietors of the saw-mill, so long as they kept it in use. 

It was voted that hereafter the selectmen should "give in their account 
what they have received, and what they have disbursed." The voters 
evidently wished to know where their money went, in which laudable curi- 
osity they have a very few imitators at the present day. 

Among the note-worthy incidents of this year, may be mentioned the 
case of Robert Pike, of Salisbury. The Court had prohibited Joseph 
Peasley and Thomas Macy, of Salisbury, from exhorting the people on the 
Sabbath, in the absence of a minister. Pike declared that " such persons 
as did act in making that law, did break their oath to the country, for it 
is against the liberty of the country, both civil and ecclesiatical." For 
expressing himself in this manner, he was disfranchised by the General 
Court, and heavily fined. At the next May Court, a "petition was pre- 
sented from a large number of the inhabitants of Hampton, Salisbury, 
Newbury, Haverhill, and Andover, praying that Pike's sentence might be 
revoked.'-' 

The Court was highly indignant that " so many persons should combine 
together to present such an unjust and unreasonable request," and ap- 
pointed a commission to call the petitioners together " and require a reason 
of their very unjust request." At the next November Court, orders were 
issued to summon sixteen of the petitioners to give bonds in the sum of 
ten pounds each to appear and answer for their offence before the County 
Court. None of the Haverhill signers were however included in the order. 
They had achioioledged their offence. Three years afterward. Pike " hum- 
bly desired the Court, his fine being paid, to release him from the other 
part of his sentence," which it was pleased to do. The whole case is an 

° The following arc the names of the Haverhill signers, as copied from the original petition in the 
State Archives : — 

Haverill. Kichard Littlehale Robbert Eres 

James Davis " John Ileth George Corlis 

Joseph Peasly Jol) Clenionts Bartholomew Heth 

Tristram Coffin Abraham Tylar Edw. Clarke 

rfctc- Coflin John Williams James Davis Jr 

John Davis John Williams Thcophilus Sachwell 

John Eaton Thomas Davis Tho: Whittier 

Thomas Katon Joh: Eyerea Tho: Dow 

"■ Robert Clements James tiiske Joseph Davis 

Thomas Belfore Dan: Hendrick Peter Ayre 

John Webstar Stephen Kent Samuel Gild 

•^ George Brown Richard Singltnry Robbert Swan 

Epbraim Pavig Henry Pnhner 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 81 

instructive one, and throws much light on the public religious opinions of 
the times. 

At a town meeting, held February 9, 1654, liberty was granted to 
Stephen Kent to place a wear in Little River, to catch alewives, or any 
other fish, if he would sell to the inhabitans of the town " what alewives 
they stood in need of." This is the first notice we have of these fisheries, 
which were afterward carried on to a considerable extent. 

At the May session of the General Court, a new petition was received 
from Haverhill, touching the bounds between that town and Salisbury, as 
a "great mistake" was made in the previous running of the line. The 
Court, after hearing both parties, appointed a committee to look into the 
matter thoroughly. At the next Court the committee made their return, 
which, as a matter of curiosity as well as interest, we copy entire : — 
" September: 23: 1G54. 

In obedense to the generall cortes order we haue vewed the line con- 
cluded by Salesberry and Hauerill to deuid the land betwene them : and we 
find that as it is expressed in the petission there was a gret mistake in the 
first Ruing of the line this we find accnolaged by both partes : for he that 
carred the compas at the first from the plase concluded one from mcremack 
Reuer a but one mile and a quarter tow a stompe of a pipestave tree : he 
said he had Rine nor west : which moued the men chose by Hauerill to 
yeld vnto Sallsberry one point more : but we haue gone nor west from the 
place one merremack Reuer formerly concluded one : and we find that nor 
west Cometh a boue a quarter of a mile in going a mile a quarter nerrer 
to hauerell then the line first Rune so we find that nor west as according 
to the true vnderstanding of ther first agreement doth yeld vnto Salsberre : 
and if the liae nor west and by west shold stand a gret part of the med- 
dowes lyiag one that quarter : wold be cut of from hauerrell to ther gret 
preludes and the not cnoing of that mistak mad them yeld one point more 
we thinke if the plesuer of the Cort bee so : that it may bee well for this 
honerred cort to order that a nor west line may part the land be twext 
them (onely this) if any of the meddowes laid out to any of Hauerrell 
shall be cut of from Hauerrell : by this line, that those meddows shall 

Remane to hauerrell (or those men to home it is laid : fore euer 

youers in all diitefoll obedense 
further we thinke meeete that Hen: Short 

Silsbury shall haue liberty ouer Joseph Jowett 

hauerill commons if the swamp , John Stevens 

stop the way the sd way to be 
forty Rod broade 

11 



82 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

The Deputyes accept, of the Eetume of those Comissionsrs appoynted 
to lay out the bounds herein exprest and desire the Consent of the honord 
magists herevnto. 

Consented to by ye magists. Edw: Rawson Secret. 24 Octob. 54." 

It seems, however, that even this did not permanently settle the vexed 
dispute. Both parties again became dissatisfied, and the matter continued 
to trouble the General Court until 1667, when the Court finally disposed 
of it as follows : — 

" As a final issue of all differences between the two towns of Haverhill 
and Salisbury Newtown,-- in reference to their bounds, the Court having 
heard what all parties could say therein, judge meet to confirm the line 
which was run by the committee and the agi*eement of both towns, begin- 
ning at a tree near Holt's Rocks, near Merrimack river's side, and running 
up on the N W line, as they apprehended, to Brandy Brow, and from thence 
to Darby Hill, and so to a Avhite pine about a mile further, marked H. S. 
and this is to be the dividing line between them." 

On the 31st of May, 1654, Thomas Dow died. He was the first adult 
that had died in the town since its settlement. Thirteen children had 
died previously, but no grown person.f 

Some additions were made to the ox-common this year, and the whole 
was ordered to be fenced. The town also voted " that all those that will 
join in the fencing of it, shall have a proportion in it according to the 
fence they make and maintain, provided that none shall keep more than 
four oxen in it." Thirty-four persons assisted to build the fence, and were 
entitled to keep ninety-two oxen within the enclosure. It was then voted 
that " the cattel that shall goe in the ox-common this day gi-anted, shall 
be only oxen, steers, and horses, and no other cattel." 

This ox-common was located on the south side of Kenoza I^ake, and a 
part of it is still known by that name. Several other ox-commons were 
subsequently laid out in different parts of the town, but they were much 
smaller than the first. Some of them were only a few acres in extent 
being laid out for a single person, while others were intended for several 
persons. The one above mentioned, however, was the most extensive ox- 
common ever laid out in the town. 

At the December meeting of the town, a parcel of land, not exceeding 
four-score acres, was laid out to the saw-mill owners "to plant and im- 

° Salisbury Xewtown (now Amesbury) was settled in 1012, liy order of the freemen of Salisbury, that 
" there shall thirty families remove to the west of Pow-wow Iliver, to form a settlement." It was called 
Salisbury Xe.w Trnvn until some time after it was set ofTas a separate town, in lt3r)4. 

t Previous to March 30, 1003, there were forty-seven deaths in town, forty of which were children. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 83 

prove, so long as the sawmill shall go." The lot was on the west side of 
saw-mill river. The next June, eight acres were laid out on the further 
side of Fishing Kiver, " toward the sawmill," from which, and one or two 
other allusions, we conclude there was also a saw-mill on that stream at 
that time, or one about to be erected. 

In February, 1656, the town voted to cancel all grants and privileges, 
if the present saw-mill or some other, did not cut boards enough for the 
town by the next midsummer. But it seems that the saw-mill was not to 
be hurried, and the town in 1658 lost all their patience, and declared all 
former grants and privileges forfeited. At the same time Thomas Davis, 
(who was one of the principal owners of the old mill) John Hutchins, and 
Daniel Hendricks, were granted the privileges formerly allowed to the old 
saw-mill, if they put up a mill .and supplied the town within twelve 
months. But even this did not prove sufficiently stimulating to those in- 
terested, j^o mill was erected, and the next year the town declared the 
privilege forfeited. 

Among the acts of the G-eneral Court this year, IGo-i, was one providing 
that ministers should be respectably maintained in the several towns ; and 
in case the latter neglected to do it, the county courts were empowered 
ajid directed to cause a regular tax to be assessed on the oifending towns, 
for that purpose. 

A law was passed at the November Court, prohibiting all persons, ex- 
cept those specially lisenced, from selling " any Indian or Indians, either 
wine or strong liquors of any sort," under a penalty of 20s per pint, and 
in that proportion for all quantities, more or less. Henry Palmer of this 
town, and Roger Shaw of Hampton, were the only ones thus lisenced in 
the County of Norfolk. 

During the year 1655, some repairs were made on the meeting-house, as 
it appears by a town vote of March 3d, that " Thomas Davis shall have 
three pounds allowed him by the towne, for to ground-pin and dawb it j 
provided that Thomas Davis provide the stones and clay for the underpin- 
ings ; the town being at their own expense to bring ye clay into place for 
ye plastering of ye walls up to the beams." Lime mortar had not yet 
come into common use. It was not until more than fifty years afterward 
that limestone was discovered in the Colony. It was first found in New- 
bury, in 1697, by ensign James Noyes, and occasioned a great excitement. 
For nearly a century after its discovery, large quantities were annually 
made in that town for export as well as for home use. Prior to that time, 
what little lime was used was manufactured from oyster and clam-shells 

In 1648, Thomas Hale was appointed fen-yman, probably for that year 



84 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

only ; and it does not appear that any was afterward appointed ; for, at the 
September term, KJa"), " Ye Court being informed yt there is no fery over 
Merrimack river, at Haverill, the courte orders Eobert Haseltine to keepe 
a fery over the said river ; and to have of strangers 4d a person, if they 
pay presently ; and Gd if bookt ; and to keepe entertaynement for horse 
and man, for one yeare, unless the General Court take further orders." 
Haseltine lived on the Bradford shore of the river. 

About this time considerable difficulty arose between Mr. Ward and a 
part of his people concerning his salary, which was thought by the latter 
to be exorbitant. It seems that the difficulty had become so great, it was 
deemed necessary to call a council of the neighboring clergymen. The 
following is the order of the council of the Commonwealth, touching 
the matter : — 

" Att a Council held at Boston the 14th of Augiist 1656." 

The Councill being Informed by the Honnored Govnr and Deput Govnr 
of the vncomfortable differences that of late haue fallen out in the churches 
of Christ at Hauerill and Salisbury notwthstanding seuerall Indeavors to 
Compose the same, which yett haue binn fruitelesse, out of theire tender 
care to preserve & procure peace & vnitje amongst them lately wrote to 
the said church in an Amicable way to Advise & Counsell them forthwith 
to call in to theire help such counsell from theire Neighboring churches, 
as the Eule prescribes ; from whose labors thro the blessing of God a 
blessing might haue bin expected wch too great a part of those churches 
as they vnderstand is farr from Inclyning vnto The Councill Judging it to 
be theire duty to take an effectuall Course for the healing of theire breaches 
Doe Order and Desire that the Churches of Christ in Boston Cambridg 
and Ipswich doe each of them respectively send two messengers to meete 
at Hauerell & Salisbury as hereafter is exprcst i e. to meete at Hauerill 
on the twenty seventh day of this Instant August by eight of the clock in 
the morning to consider & Advise in the primisses viz to endeavor to com- 
pose & sitle the distractions at Hauerill to give theire Judgments in the 
Cases of differences there And : at Salisbury the day after theire Issuing 
or Rising from Hauerill for ye ends aboue exprst And It is expected & 
desired that the churches of Hauerell & Salisbury and all persons con- 
cerned therein in either of the sajd places, give this Councill at the time 
& place aforesajd the opportunity of meeting wth them to declare what 
shall Concerne themselves or the Councill see cawse to Enquire of them 
in reference to this buisnes. And It is Ordered that mr Eobert Cleaments 
for Hauerill mr Samuell Hall for Salisbury shall take Care for the en. 

e Bute ArchiTeSi Eccl. Vol. 10, p. 36. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 85 

tertajnement of the sajd Councill & all persons concerned therein wch shall 
he sattisfied by the Tresurer. And It is ordered the sajd Councill haue 
liberty to Adjourne to some other place if they shall see cawse making 
theire retourne to the Councill of this Jurisdiction what successe theire 
endeavors through the blessing of God haue procured and where the fault 
hath binn or is that so if necessity Require such further Course may 
be taken therein as may most conduce to ye Glory of God the vniting of 
theire harts to vnity in truth & peace accordingto the Eule of the Gospell 

By ye Councill Edward Eawson Secret 

The difficulties were not, however, wholly confined to the matter of 
salary, as may be seen from the following extract from the minutes of the 
above ordered Coancil: — 

Haverill August 28 1656 

Quest. 1. AVhether Henry Palmer a member of the Church of Haverill, 
being by publike arbitration censured as a delinquent in point of Defama- 
tion of Rob. Swan a member also of Rowley church, it be ye duty of ye 
Church of Haverill to take church-notice thereof, & if thereupon it shall 
appear also to the church that He is an offender, then to proceed with him 
in a church- way ? 

Ans. 1. The sentence of ye Arbitration being publicke there was Just 
cause why ye church should orderly inquire into ye matter ; whose duty 
it is to see to ye inoffensivenes of their members. 

2. 1. The Censure of ye Arbitratours as such was not a sufficient 
Ground why the church should censure Henry Palmer, 1. because the 
Church Judicature is distinct from & not depending upon the Ciuill Judi- 
cature: Those two polities are coordinate not subordinate. 2. The church 
is to Act 1. her owne faith, & not to be led by example further then shee 
finds it conformable to rule. 2. Henry Palmers satisfaction to civil order 
was not as such satisfaction to the church : As satisfaction to the church 
in case of offence is no satisfaction to ye Coui*t. Because their Institution, 
meanes & ends are Divers. 

3. 1. Goodman Palmer did well in presenting the case unto the rever- 
end Teacher, & in desireing that by him it might be brought unto the 
Church. 2. We also conceive that there was too gTcat appearance of much 
iniquity on Goodman Swans part in this matter. 8. Yet in regard the wit- 
nesses are detected of such falsehood in point of Testimony concerning this 
Business as renders them incompetent to establish a matter before the 
church ; Therefore Goodm. Palmer his charging of Goodm Swan with Sin 
(especially of such nature) thereupon, was not without Sin because with- 
out sufficient ground before the church. The acknowledgement whereof 



86 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

as we commend to & hope it will not be grievous unto our Broth, palmer ; 
so we desire it may be accepted of the Church, & that in such manner as 
his Infirmity herein (too common unto ye Best) being forgiven all regular 
zeale against sin both in Him and others may yet receive due incourage- 
ment. 

Quest. 2. Whether Kobert Hazleton did in the case between Henry 
Palmer & Eobert Swan give Testimony upon oath, yea or no ? 

Ans. The scope of this Question being whether as to man the oath was 
Taken yea or not ; to pronounce positively concerning the taking or not 
taking thereof the Case requireth not. But that it wa^ taken is not a 
Truth as to the Church, Before which a matter is not to stand without two 
or three witnesses. There beeing therefore as concerning this Question, so 
much for ye negative & no positive Testimony save only that of of Thomas 
Aires for the affirmative ; the Church cannot receive it as a Truth nor may 
admit any further debate about it, without the Hazard of her peace & 
prejudice to edification 

Hence wee conceive the Act of Thomas Aires in Charging & urging 
the prosecution of those Brethren in a church way who said it was not 
Taken, & that to the Hindrance of the celebration of ye Lords Supper 
then intended to be iiTegular & in the nature of it of much ill consequence. 

The Council subsequently reported that "through the blessing of God, 
the differences were in a good measure composed, and their ministers set- 
tled amongst them,"=- They decided that Mr. Ward should be paid fifty 
pounds per annum ; which were to be paid in wheat, rye, and Indian corn. 
They also specified how Mr. Ward's rate should be made, and collected. 
Men were to be appointed yearly " to cut, make, and bring home his hay 
and wood," who were to be paid out of his salary. 

The next Court ordered the Constable of Haverhill to levy, by way of 
Kate, on the inhabitants of Haverhill, the sum of £12. 19s. " for the satis- 
fying of Mr. John Clements for the charges expended in Haverhill" by 
the Council. 

This year Michael Emerson moved into town, and settled near the 
White house, on Mill Street. The grantees offered that if he would "go 
back into the woods," they would give him a tract of land. He accepted 
the offer, and settled not far from the corner of Primrose and Winter 
Streets. The "Emerson Estate," on the south side of the latter street^ 
is a part of the original tract granted to Michael Emerson. 

" The Council's return to the General Court was "only a verbal return."— C. li. 4 — 210. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 87 

In July of this year, the first Quakers arrived in the colony, and soon 
was commenced what is generally called the persecution of the Quakers. 
Their books were burned, and a sentence of banishment passed upon them. 
Severe penalties were prescribed, even to maiming and death, for all 
such as should return into the jurisdiction after their banishment. Under 
this law, four pei-sons were executed. In 1661, the King issued an order 
requiring that this punishment of his subjects, called Quakers, should 
cease. The order was obeyed, and all disturbances by degrees subsided. 

Early in the year 1657, "Goodman Simons" was appointed to keep the 
ferry on the " G-reat Eiver." If he had only a canoe, he was to ferry sin- 
gle persons for two-pence, and cattle for four-pence each ; but if he 
provided a suitable boat, his price was to be six-pence a head for cattle 
two-pence for sheep and hogs, and three-pence for strangers. 

At the town meeting of March 6th, John Hutchins, of Newbury, was 
granted liberty to set a wear in the Merrimack, " at the little island above 
the town by the falls." He was to have the use of the island and the 
flats to dry his fish. For these privileges, he was to " sell fish to the in- 
habitants of the town for such pay as the town can make;" (that is, 
exchange for such produce, &c., as they could spare). He was also " to sell 
them dry fish at merchants prices, for their own spending, before any 
other." The town also granted him a houselot and other land. Hutchins 
agreed to have his works finished within two years, and doubtless did so. 

Previous to this time, no one was required to pay public rates, or taxes, 
unless he was a freeholder. From the first, there were some in town who 
did not own any real estate, and as their number increased with the gen- 
eral increase of the inhabitants, it was at length obvious that as they 
'• partook of the benefits of the church and commonwealth," they ought 
also to share in the labor of maintaining them. Accordingly the town 
voted that if any person moved into town who was not a freeholder, he 
should be taxed for these purposes according to his " visible estate," or by 
estimation of the selectmen. 

In January, 1658, a third division of meadow was granted, and ordered 
to be laid out before the 15th of May next, at the rate of half an acre to 
an acre of accommodation. Forty-one persons drew lots in this division. 
The only new name we find among them, is that of William Simmons. 

At the same meeting it was voted that, if any person had no convenient 
road to his upland, or meadow, upon his complaint to the town, two men 
were to be chosen to lay one out, whose charges should be defrayed by the 
town. 

There seems to have been a great deal of laying down and taking up land 
this year, by the inhabitants. At one time it appears as if " the plain " 



88 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

was the favorite spot for locating ; and, anon, the ovmers in the plain are 
suddenly laying down their land, and rushing " over the Little Eiver west- 
ward." No sooner have they done this, than the Little Eiver people make 
haste to take up the land in the plain. A study of these cross-cut move- 
ments among the early settlers, leads us to the sage conclusion that "hu- 
man nature is human nature," the world over. 

It appears that the inhabitants suffered considerably for the want of a 
blacksmith. To obviate this difficulty, a contract was signed by Mr. 
Ward and nineteen others, in which each agi*ee to pay Mr. Jewett his 
proportion of twenty pounds, to purchase his house and land, which the 
contractors gave to John Johnson, " provided he live here seven years, 
following the trade of a blacksmith in doing the town's work ; also, the 
said John Johnson doth promise to refuse to work for any that refuse to 
pay towards this purchase, untill they bring under the Selectmen's hands 
that they will pay." This house stood on the ground now occupied by 
the Exchange building. Water Street. Until recently, this land has been 
owned by the heirs of Hon. Bailey Bartlett, a lineal descendant from the 
above John Johnson. He was also the ancestor of most of the Johnsons in 
the town. 

Johnson came from Charlestown, where he married, October 15, 1656, 
Elizabeth, daughter of Elias Maverick, and had one child, John (born 
Augusts, 1657) previous to his removal to Haverhill. It is worthy of 
note, that the same trade has been almost or quite constantly carried on 
in this town, since that time, by his lineal descendants. Washington 
Johnson, son of John, (who was also a blacksmith,) still exercises the 
trade, and his shop stands on land once belonging to the oiiginal John 
Johnson. 

The following arc the names pf those who entered into the above agree- 
ment with Johnson : — • 

•' Mr. John Ward, John Heath, for himself & Thomas 
Joseph Jewett, Lilford, 

John Eaton, James Davis, jun, 

James Davis sen, Thomas Whittier, 

Henry Palmer, William Simons, 

William White, Hugh Sherratt, 

Thomas Daivis, Samuel Guile, 

Robert Swan, Daniel Ella promised to give five 
Theoj)hilus Satchwell, shillings towards this purchase. 

- George Browne, Steven Kent 12 shillings," 
Bartholomew Heath, 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 89 

The first regular deed of Eeal Estate in the town, that we can find re- 
corded, is that of Thomas Sleeper and wife, to Wm. White, under date of 
October 11, 1659. The form is very nearly that in present use. 

The same year, a fourth division of upland was laid out, beyond Spig- 
got River, (in what is now Salem, X. H.) It was ordered to be bounded 
south by the Merrimack, north by Shatswell's Pond, west by the town's 
bounds, and to run eastward until the lots were all drawn. It was divided 
into forty-nine lots, all but three of which were drawn. They were laid 
out one mile in length, and at the rate of twenty acres to one acre of 
accommodation land. 

At the meeting of November 23d, it was voted that if a town meeting 
was publicly warned on a Lecture day, it should be considered a sufiicient 
notice. It was also voted that no man should be taken into town as 
an inhabitant, or " town dweller," without the consent of the town. 
As the inhabitants were proprietors of the soil, and had a flourishing set- 
tlement well established, we surely cannot blame them for exercising their 
undoubted right to say who should be their associates, and share in 
their important advantages and privileges. It was also voted that none 
should be allowed to vote in town aifairs, without consent from the town, 
except as the law gave them that privilege. 

The population of the town now began to increase more rapidly. The 
beauty of the location, the sober industry and thrift of the inhabitants, 
and their liberality toward new comers generally, were inducements that 
ere this were widely known, and many were eager to become an inhabitant 
of the town. 

Under such circumstances, we need not wonder that the meeting-house 
had already been found too small to accommodate the worshippers. To 
remedy the inconvenience, the town appointed a committee to enlarge and 
repair the house, according to their best discretion; and "to finish it, 
and make seats in it, and also to sell land for to pay the workmen, not ex- 
ceeding twenty acres in the cow-common. "=•■= 

Daniel Ladd and Theophilus Shatswell, having received liberty from 
the town, erected a saw-mill on Spiggot (Spicket) Elver. It was built 



<* This is the first notice we find of a cow-common, though it appears one had previously heen laid out. 
Like many other matters, no record had been made of it. The common alluded to, was that situated 
nearly due north from the bridge, on the south and west of Round Pond. A part of it is still known as 
the " Commons." 

12 



90 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

within the present limits of Salem, N. H., and was the first one erected 
upon that stream. The proprietors were required to pay the town five 
pounds per annum for the privilege. 

Sometime this year, John Clement sailed for England, and on his out- 
ward voyage was cast away and drowned. At the September term, 
Eobert, his brother, applied to the Court to be appointed administrator of 
his estate. This is the first notice we have of an administratorship in the 
town. The following is a copy of the Eecord : — ■• 

" John Clements late of Haverhill, being by God's providence cast away 
and dying intestate, the worshipful Mr. Samuel Symonds, and Major Gen- 
eral Denizen the Clarke, being present, granted administration unto Eobert 
Clements of the estate of John Clements deceased, he to bring an inven- 
tory to Ipswich Court next, and then the Court to take further orders." 

In the following year, Eobert Clement "brought in an accompt to this 
court of his charges expended in his voiage to England and Ireland, his 
brother John, his wife and children ; and upon the request of his brother 
Job and Sisters, the court confirmed the administration unto Eobert 
Clements of the estate of his brother John Clements. "=•■- 

A petition was presented to the General Court in October, 1659, asking 
for the grant of " a tract of land twelve miles square, in a place called 
Pennacooke." The petitioners were from Newbury, Mass., and Dover, 
N. H. The court granted them eight miles square, on certain conditions, 
which were not, however, complied with. Pennacook, now Concord, N. H., 
was not settled till 1726. 

In these days of rapid movements, it seems almost incredible that nearly 
a century should intervene between the settlement of this town and the 
rich and extensive intervales of Penacook, only forty miles distant. But 
so it was. Haverhill was a frontier town for more than seventy years. 



<* John Clements was the son of Robert, senior. He married Saxab, daughter of John Osgood, of Ando- 
yer, by whom he had four danghters. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 91 



CHAPTER VIIL 



1660 TO 1669. 



The early inhabitants of Haverhill seem to have had a strong desire for 
a. large town. We have seen that as early as 1644, they petitioned for 
more land; and again in 1648 ; and for a long series of years they were 
disputing with Salisbury about a few acres of meadow ; and when the 
General Court granted Major Dennison a tract of land " on the other side 
of Merrimack, about sixe miles above Andover," in 1660, it was found 
that Haverhill claimed the land as within the bounds of their town ! The 
Court evidently thought that this was claiming altogether too much, and 
they accordingly ordered "that the townsmen of Haverhill be required 
by warrant from the secretary to appear at the next sessions of this Court, 
to show a reason why they have marked bound trees at so great a distance 
from their town up Merremacke River and also to give an account of the 
bounds of their town, and upon what right they lay claim to so long a 
tract of land. 

The town chose James Davis and Theophilus Shatswell " to answer the 
warrant of the General Court concerning the bounds." They were voted 
to be paid " ten groats per day " each, for their services. 

At the November meeting, it was ordered that the land "behind the 
meeting house should be reserved for a burial ground." This is the first 
mention we find in relation to a burial ground, but as the old English 
custom was to appropriate a spot near the church for that purpose, which 
they called " Grod's acre," we presume that from the first settlement, the 
dead had been buried near the meeting house, and that this vote was 
merely the formal setting apart of the place for that purpose. The spot 
referred to, was the central part of the old burial ground, now called 
■"Pentucket Cemetery." 

lit the same meeting, ten acres of meadow, and two hundred acres of 
upland, were granted for a parsonage to Mr. Ward and his successors. 

A second ox-common was also granted, on the petition of six persons. 
It was situated between Merrie's Creek and a small brook which issues 
from West-meadow. Eighteen oxen were kept upon it. 

The first public school in the town was established about this time ; the 
instructor was Thomas Wasse, whose salary was ten pounds per year. 



92 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

He also taugLt school in Ipswich, (Chebaco Parish) and at Kewhury. He 
died at Newbury May 18, 1691. "\Yassc kept the school in Haverhill from 
1G60 to 1073, and perhaps later. 

It seems that the inhabitants were still troubled about their mills. At 
the above meeting, a committee was chosen to request the executors of Mr. 
(John) Clements to repair the mill, or " desert the place." If they re- 
fused, the committee were to "force them by law." 

Up to this time there had been recorded nineteen marriages, one hun- 
dred and thirty-five births, and thirty deaths. 

At the town meeting of February 28, IGGl, a fourth division \)f meadow 
was ordered to be laid out. Fifty-three lots were drawn.''' 

The road near " hucklebery hill " was laid out this year; ana the ox- 
common was divided into two parts ; — the division line running nt^rth and 
south. Those who lived east of Mill Brook were to occupy the eastern 
part of the ox-common, and those who lived west of the brook, the west- 
ern part. 

At the same meeting, the following vote was passed: — "Toted and 
granted that there shall be laid out to every one that will, either now, or 
hereafter, to evcrj' four acres of commonage, two ox-pastures, proportion- 
able to the first ox-common, provided they make their title appear to the 
town." 

These two votes indicate the change already taking place in the town. 
The settlers were fast approaching the present individuality in property. 
Each man desired to be lord over his own domains, — king in his own 
castle. The latter vote allowed each man to have his ox-pasture by him- 
self, if he so desired, and at the next annual meeting the large ox-commou 
laid out in 1654, was divided, and parceled out to the persons entitled to 
shares in it ; and various persons had private ox-commons, or pastures, 
laid out for them. 

The settlers had already begun to form their lands into farms, by " lay- 
ing down," " taking up," buying, selling, and exchanging lots ; many had 
built themselves houses, and removed their families on to their farms ; 
and the best part of the town's territory was fast becoming dotted with 
the cottages of the settlers. 

At the same meeting of the town, the following vote was passed : — 
" Voted and granted that all such grants of land which the inhabitants of 
Haverhill are already legally possessed of or may hereafter be legally 

<* Amonjr the names, we notice the following, not before mentioned in the divisions of land: — John 
Johnson, Ephraim Davis, John Carleton, James Pecker, John Eemington, William Deale, Michael Emer- 
son, Daniel Ela, Joseph Johnson, John Eaton. 



HISTORY 01" HAVERHILL. 93 

possessed of in the town of Haverhill, shall remain to them, their heirs, 
executors, administrators and assigns forever, excepting such gi'ants as 
are or shall be made to some men during the towns pleasure, or for a set 
time." 

This vote was but another step in the direction already indicated, and 
shows us still more plainly the prevailing desire for independent land 
ownership. The laying out of highways now became nearly as frequent 
as the laying out of lots had been previously ;=•■' the land rapidly increased 
in value and productiveness, and the town in population and wealth. 

The following extracts from the town records, though they do not give 
a list of all the houses built in the years mentioned, yet show that the 
town was increasing with great rapidityf : — 

" Cottages. Whereas the law provides for the prevention of the great 
inconvenience and damage that otherways would accrue by those persons 
that have built houses or cottages upon the common, or their own land, 
since 1660, that have not lawful right thereunto, to the great prejudice of 
the house proprietors. Thereof we whose names are hereunto subscribed, 
do judge it meet for the prevention as abovesaid, and do here set down the 
names of those that have built houses upon the Common of Haverhill, or 
their own land, since the year above-said. 

Samuel Davis, Thomas Whittier, Stephen Webster, 

James Davis jun, Abraham Whiticker. James Peacker, 

John Swaddock, Samuell Coulby, Daniel Ladd jun, 

Samuel Gilde sen. Samuell Currier, Mathias Button, 

Bartholomew Heath, Benjamin Page, Stephen Dow, 

Nathaniel Smith John Page jun, John Eyer, 

Will: Neff, Joshua Woodman. 

(Signed) George Browne, Daniel Lad sen, John Haseltine, Joseph Davis, 
Selectmen of Haverhill, in the year 1668." 

'^ The highway between this town and Newbury was formally laid out this year. 

•f On the 15th of March, 1660, the town of Ipswich adopted the following order : — 

"For as much as it is found by experience, that the common lands of this town are overburdened by 
the multiplying of dwelling-houses, contrary to the interest and me.-ning of the first inhabitants in their 
granting of house lots and other lands to such as came among them : to the end such inconveniences may 
be prevented for the future, it is ordered that no house, henceforth erected, shall have any right to the 
common lands of this town, nor any person, inhabiting such house, make use of any pasture, timber, or 
wood, growing ujion any of said common lands, on pretest of any right or title belonging to any such 
house hereafter built, without express leave of the town. It is further ordered, that the Seven men, in 
behalf of the town, petition the nest General Court for the confirmation of this order." 

In accordance with the above petition, the General Court passed a law. May 30, 1G60, that "no cot- 
tage or dwelling shall have commonage, except those now built, or which may be by consent of the 
commoners or towns." It was this law which occasioned a record of the erection of these cottages to be 
made. 



94 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

" A list of more houses that are and fall under the law made in '60, 
prohibiting them from privileges in Common lands. 
Joseph Davis, Kobert Ford, John Kingsbury, 

Daniel Lad sen, Isaac Colbie, Thomas Ayers, 

Joseph Johnson, 
As attest, Henry Palmer, George Brown, James Pecker, Robert Swan, Steven 
Webster, Selectmen in 1669." 

" A list of more houses built which fall under the law made 1660 which 
prohibits them from privileges in Common lands. 

James Kingsbery Gilbert Wilford, Phillip Eastman, 

Thomas Duston,'-' Math. Harriman, Josiah Gage, 

Dan Lad jun. 2d, Eob. Emerson, Jno. Hartshorn, 

Thomas Davis, Joseph Peasly, Tho. Hartshorn, 

' Peter Green, Joseph Page, Widdow Ayers, 

Joseph Hutchins, Josiah Heath, James Sanders, 

Samll, Hutchins, Nicholas Browne, Jno. Heath jun, 

Steph. Webster 2ud, Samll. Ladd, Samll. Bilknap, 

Thomas Eastman, Nath. Singletcrry, Peter Brewer. 

" This account was entered Jan 25: 75, by the Selectmen. 
AVilliam White, George Brown, Daniel Hendricks, Thomas Eatton, 
Selectmen in 1675." 

"Feb the 1st 1677. An account of more Cottages erected since Janu- 
ary 25, 75. 

Thomas Duston, Ptob. Hastings, James Saunders 2d 

Jno. llobie, Ezra Eolf. 

As attest Henry Palmer, Andrew Guile, George Brown." 

" More cottages erected since Feb 1. 77. 
Sam: Ayers, Thomas Duston 2nd,t John AVhittier, 

Joseph Kingsbery, John Williams, John Haseltine jun 

Amos Singletery, Benj Singletery. 

This account was entered January 13th 1679, by order of Henry Palmer, 
George Browne, Daniel Hendricks, Robert Emerson, Selectmen." 

" More cottages erected, entered Feb. 27. 81. 
Nath. Haseltine, Jno Stockbridge, Samll Dalton, 

Jno Johnson jun, Jno Clement." 



o This was probably the house Dnston sold to Peter Green, iu 1076. 

t As Duston was murried December, 1C77, it is probable this house was built in the summer of that 
year, and was the one in which he resided at the time liis wife was tal^eu prisoner, in 1097. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 95 

The better sort of Houses one hundred and fifty to one hundred and 
seventy-five years ago, were two stories high, with upper story jutting out 
a foot or so over the lower. The roofs were generally high and steep, and 
hipped, or gambreed. The frames were of white oak, and much larger 
than used in our day, and the beams of each finished room were left con- 
siderably in sight. The windows were from two and a half to three feet 
long, one and a half to two wide, with squares like the figure of a diamond, 
set in lead lines, and from three to four inches long. These windows were 
sometimes entire and sometimes in halves, and opened outwardly on hinges. 
They were fashionable until after about 1734. Those with four by six 
glass succeeded ; then five by seven ; then six by eight ; then seven by 
nine, set in wooden frames, — which began to be used about 1750. 

Lime-stone was little known, and less manufactured, for more than a 
century after the first settlement of the town, and the walls of houses 
were daubed with clay, mixed with straw, or plastered with a sort of lime 
made in great part of clam-shells. Paper was not put on walls until 
about a hundred years ago, and very little until 1783, — whitewash being 
used in its stead. 

Each side of a dwelling had bricks laid against the inner partition, be- 
ing then covered with clay, and then with clay-boards, (since coiTupted to 
clap-boards) , thus making them comfortable in cold weather, as well as 
durable. While the better kind of buildings were shingled on the top, 
others, such as cottages of one story, had thatched roofs, until after about 
1690. The latter was an imitation of a custom in England, where it 
still exists in country villages. 

Previous to 1700, very few if any houses had more than one chimney. 
This was in the middle, and of very large dimensions ; and, besides other 
fire-places, had a mammoth one for the kitchen, where a whole family 
could sit conveniently on the two forms, or " settles," placed in the corners. 
The writer distinctly remembers sitting in such a fire-place, gazing at the 
sky above, and watching the upward curling smoke from the huge loos be- 
fore him. Thirty cords of fire-wood annually was not then thought 
extravagant for a family. 

Paint was but little used for houses, either inside or outside, before 
about 1734, and even fifty years later it was not common for even the 
"best room "to be thus ornamented, much less the whole house. Very 
few houses were painted outside as late as 1800. 

Mirick says, that the first militia company was organized in town this 
year (1662). We think he is mistaken, as a military organization most 
certainly existed in town as early as 1 648, and the laws of the colony re- 



96 HISTORY OP HAVERHTLI,. 

quired sucli an organization to be kept up in every town. ••* It is true that 
the town records make no mention of a company previous to this year, but 
we must remember that but a small part of the transactions of the inhabi- 
tants, even in their collective capacity, are recorded. This is especially 
the case with matters regulated by the General Court, of which this under 
consideration was one. 

This year, William White was chosen Captain, and Daniel Ladd Lieu- 
tenant, and we presume their successors were regularly chosen for many 
years afterward. 

The settlers were much troubled about these times with wolves, which 
destroyed large numbers of sheep. The colony and the county had offered 
large premiums for every wolf 's head, but so serious were their depreda- 
tions that the town offered, as an addition to the State and County premium, 
a bounty of forty shillings for every wolf killed. The following is the 
vote: " If any Indian shall kill a wolf in Haverhill bounds, he, or they 
shall have for every wolf so killed, forty shillings." 

This reference to Indians does not prove us wrong in our previous spec- 
ulations as to Indians in the toAvn, or weaken our position. They were 
undoubtedly " converted " Indians, of whom there were at this time hun- 
dreds in the colony, scattered among the several towns and plantations, as 
well as collected in Indian villages. We well know that one of these 
" praying " Indians, made his home in this town for some time, and was 
the author of several cold-blooded murders during the wars that followed. 

One of the most distinguished persons engaged in the work of converting 
the aborigines of Massachusetts to the Christian faith, was liev. John 
Elliott, of Koxbury. He commenced his active labors in 1646, visiting 
the different tribes, and persuading them to imitate the manners and 
habits of their civilized neighbors. In 1651, his converts united and 
built a town, which they called ISTatick. In 166-1, Mr. Elliot completed 
the translation of the Bible into the Indian language, and the work of con- 
version increased, until, in 1695, it was estimated that in Martha's Vine- 
yard alone there were over three thousand Indian converts. In 1674, 
there were fourteen " praying towns " of Indians in Massachusetts alone. 
One of these was Wamesit, (a part of Tewksbury, or Lowell) containing 
seventy-five souls. 

Many of these praying Indians lived in the families of the settlers, and 
labored for them ; and were allowed many privileges previously denied 

'■5 In 1616 the militia were divided into thre« rcsriments. The Court appointed the Colonel and Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel ; the regiments elected their field ollicers, and " the several towns " were to make choice of 
some suitable persons to present to the General Court for •' Captains and Lieutenants." — Col. Rcc 1, 187. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 97 

them, as, for instance, the possession and use of fire-arms. It \vas these 
Indians that the vote of the town evidently referred to, and not the origi- 
nal inhabitants of the town. 

By a vote of the town the same year, William Simmons received " the 
overplus in the Constable's hands of the Country rate, to satisfy him for 
his curing of Matthias Button."='-= This is the first hint we can find of any \/ 
physician being in town. Simmons was at this time, and for the five 
years previous, the town's ferryman, as well as physician. 

We mentioned, under date of 1660, that the town laid claim to land 
some distance west of Spicket Kiver, and were summoned to the General 
Court to prove their claim to such extensive bounds. The following which 
we copy from the Records of the Court, for 1664, throws light upon the 
result of that investigation : — 

" This Court hauing in October, 1660, graunted Major Gencrll Dennis- 
son sixe hundred acres of land, (formerly graunted) to be layed out be- 
yond Merrymack Riuer, a litle above Old Wills planting ground, which 
land was then clajmed by the towne of Hauerill, as within their bound, 
for which they, by their atturnays, sumoned to appeare at that Court, did 
alleadg seuerall pleas, which the Court then judged invalid, & notwith- 
standing the same, they then graunted the six hundred acres, provided it 
were not within seaven miles of Hauerill meeting house, which sajd sixe 
hundred acres being since laid out, as above exprest, by George Abbot & 
Thomas Chandler, & retui'ned to this Court is allowed and confirmed." 

This does not seem to have settled the matter of the western bounds of 
the town, as we find the following in the Records for October, (1664) : — 

" For an issue in the case in difference between Mnjor Generall Den- 
nison & the towne of Haverill, relating to their bounds, the Court 
judgeth it meete to confirme the bounds of Haverill, not extending vpon 
the river above eight miles from their meeting house, & doe confirm unto 
Major Generall Dennison his farme as it is now lajd out." 

Though, in 1662, the Court would only allow the town to extend seven 
miles westward, in 1664, it seems, they consented to add another mile. 
Reckoning by the river, this would make the western bound of the town 
at least four viiles west of its ^present hounds, and not far from the mouth 
of Spicket River in the city of Lawrence. 

The town had, however, already laid out land to some of its inhabitants 

« Matthias Button came over with the first Governor of Massachusetts (Endicott) in 1628. He was 
living in a thatched house in Haverhill as late as 1670, and gave the Rev. Thomas Cobbett (of Ipswich) 
some of the facts communicated to Dr. Increase Mather, of the early troubles with the Indians. He 
died in 1672. 

13 



98 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 

still further west, and when the Major's farm was finally laid out, it was 
obliged to lay out new lots instead of them, in another place. 

From the Koxbury church records, we learn that there was a severe 
drought in the early part of 1662; and from the Hampton Court records, 
that the following winter was very moderate, the ground not freezing un- 
til the twentieth of December. 

In 1663, the town voted that there should be a general Town-Meeting 
holden on the first Tuesday in March, annually, " for the granting and 
selling & exchanging of lands or commonages, if the town see cause, & 
therefore it is hereby ordered, that all the other town or other meetings 
whatever, after this day is ended, shall be, & are hereby prohibited from 
acting upon those grants of lands or commonages. "=■■' 

Previous to this, there was no regular time for holding town meetings, 
or acting upon land matters. The day above designated continued to be 
the time for the annual meetings until 1675, when it was changed to the 
last Tuesday in February. 

Previous to this time, grants of land were seldom recorded in the town 
books at the time they were laid out ; — thus, Samuel Gild's grant of 
1663, was not entered until 1690. The evil tendency of this loose prac- 
tice was too glaring to escape notice, and, in 1664, a step was taken in 
the right direction, by requiring all future grants to be recorded when laid 
out. This was followed two years after, by an order requiring that all 
who claimed to own land in town, should bring in their title to the same, 
that it might be duly examined and approved. 

At a meeting in December 1663, it was voted to lay out the way " for- 
merly called Goodman Ayers cartway," and leading "from Coflin's Ordi- 
nary to the country highway," as a public highway, and twelve rods wide. 
This "twelve rod way" afterward caused the town considerable trouble 
as will be seen. It commenced at the foot of " Sander's Hill " (near the 
present residence of Eichard Stuart) and run in a direct line to the 
Merrimack, striking the latter about one fourth of a mile above the Eocks 
Bridge. 

At the annual meeting, in 1664, the selectmen were authorized to sell a 
quantity of land, to pay the expense of building a pound. This was the 
first building of the kind erected ; it was built of wood and stood near the 
meeting house. 

The town still continued to be troubled with wolves, and so gi-eat was 
the damage done by them, that the town again offered a bounty of forty 

" The word farm, is found in the town records of this year for the first time. 



HISTORY 0¥ HAVERHILL. 99 

shillings for eaeh one killed, in addition to the large bounty offered by 
the County. 

Mr. John Carleton was this year chosen Town Eecorder and Clerk of 
the Writs, in which offices he continued until 1668. 

An old manuscript states that there were sixty-four freemen in town 
this year. The list begins with " Mr. Ward our preacher." 

Another cow-common was ordered to be laid out ; it extended from 
Little Eiver to a place then called North-meadow, and from thence to 
East-meadow. 

The owners of the saw-mill were this year allowed the use of one hun- 
dred acres to pasture their oxen, by paying an annual rent of "100 
boards." 

The General Court, in 1664, remitted to John Hutchins, late constable 
of Haverhill, several pounds, for coi-n which he had collected for taxes, 
but which was consumed by fire, while yet on his hands. The Court also 
granted him twenty shillings "for his pains in executing a warrant for 
the apprehending of an Indian for killing his squaw." 

At the annual meeting* of 1665, a road was ordered to be laid out from 
" Holt's Rocks,""' just below the present Eocks Bridge, to the Country 
bridgb, in the East-meadow. 

It was also voted that Mr. Ward, with three others, " should plan and 
seat the inhabitants of Haverhill in the seats built in the meeting house." 

Nathaniel Saltonstall was chosen Captain of the Militia company, and 
George Browne, Ensign. The flag of this company was a ground field 
green, with a red cross, " with a white field in ye angle according to ye 
antient custom of our own English Nation, and the English plantations in 
America, & our own practice in our ships & other vessels, by order of ye 
Major General." The military forces of the town, and, in fact, of the 
whole colony, seem to have been well organized at this period. 

The inhabitants about this time seem to have been much troubled for 
want of sufficient mill accommodations, as we find " that taking into con- 
sideration that the corn mill now in Haverhill is not sufficient to answer 
the town's end for to gi'ind the town's corn," a committee was chosen to 
treat with John Osgood and Andrew Grealey, the owners of the mill, " to 
know whether they will maintain a sufficient mill or mills for to answer 
the end of the town." In case the owners should neglect or refuse to do 
it, the committee were empowered " to agree with any other men that will 
build & maintain a sufficient mill or mills, that may answer the end of 
the town for to grind the town's corn sufficiently." 

" Holt's Rocks were so called from one Nicholas Holt, one of the first settlers of Newbury, and who 
sttcrward settled in Audover. He kept the first ferry near the Eocks. 



100 HISTORY 07 HAVERHILL. 

This vigorous action on the part of the town had the desired effect. An 
•agrecuient was entered into with the committee, by Bartholomew Heath 
and Andrew Grealey, to the following eflFect : — 

" First, to repair the mill that now is, by Sept next : & if this mill 
proves insufficient to answer the town's end, then to build another by 
September following ; & so to keep & maintain from time to time a suffi- 
cient corn mill or mills, suitable for all sorts of grain that the inhabitants 
of Haverhill shall have occasion to grind : and also to keep a sufficient 
skilful miller, or millers, such as the town shall approve of from time to 
time ; & further do engage to provide good millstones ; and convenient 
room for the laying of the bags, with sufficient housing with lock and key : 
& also we do engage not to grind for any other town or towns to the hin- 
drance of any of the inhabitants of Haverhill." 

In consideration of the above, the town agreed that Heath and Grealey 
should " have so much privilege of the land in the street on both sides of 
the brook at the end of Michael Emerson's lot as may be convenient to 
set another mill on, or any other place on the town's land. And also we 
do engage that no other man shall set up a mill or mills upon any land 
that is the town's with any order from the town." The agreement ia 
dated November 4, 1665. 

Among the names met with in the records of this year, we find the fol- 
lowing new ones : — William Compton, Roger Lanceton. 

With the increase of population came the necessity of more extensive 
meeting house accommodations, and after due deliberation it was voted at 
the annual meeting of 1666, "yt John Hutchins shall have libertie to 
beuld a gallerey at ye westend of ye meeting house, and to take any of ye 
inhabitants of ye town to joyne with him, provided yt he give nottise to 
ye towne whether he will or noe ye next training day, soe yt any of ye 
inhabitants of ye towne yt hath a minde to joyne with him, may give in 
their naimes ; and yt there is none but ye inhabitants of ye towne is to 
have any interest in ye said gallery." 

At the same meeting, it was voted, that the " Selectmen, chosen for the 
year ensuing, shall have power to act in any prudential affairs according 
to the laws of the country, excepting in the disposing of lands." For 
years afterward this vote was renewed annually. 

From the records of the County Court, we learn, that John Carleton of 
this town was fined three pounds for striking Eobert Swan several blows, 
& Eobert Swan 30s for striking John Carleton several blows." We com- 
mend the wisdom of the Court in punishing both parties. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 101 

The bounds of the town were not, it seems, yet fully settled, but con- 
tinued to occupy the attention both of the town and the General Court, 
until the latter evidently considered it high time the matter was finally 
disposed of. 

Accordingly, at the May session of 1666, " Left Thomas Noyes, of 
Sudbury, John Parker of Billirrikey, & Left Challice, of Salisbury New- 
toune," were " appointed a committee to run the bounds of the town of 
Haverill, & make returne thereof to the next session of the Court." 

At the session of the succeeding May, the following report was submit- 
ted to the court : — 

" In obedience to an order of the honored Generall Court, dated the 
23d of May, 1666, Thomas Noyes, of Sudbury, Lieftenant Challice, of 
Salisbury, New towne, John Parker, of Billirrikey, did meete at Haverill, 
the 31st day of October 1666, to runn the bounds of Haverill, according 
to order committed unto us. Wee began at the meeting house, and runne 
a due west Ijne just eight miles ; there wee reared up a heape of stones, & 
from thence runn a due south Ijne to Men-ymacke River, & stated"-^ a due 
north Ijne from the sajd heape of stones to meet with & close the Ijne 
northwest from the bound at Merrimack Eiver that divides between Hav- 
erill & Salisbury, which bound is just two miles & fowerteen score poles 
from Haverill meeting house, which lyeth about east north east, & there 
we cease our worke at that time for want of the order wherein that Ijne 
was prefixt betwene Siilisbury & Haverill from the sajd bounds at Holts 
Eocks; then the sajd commitee did appointe to meete again to finish the 
work about the bounds vpon the first second day of May next following. 
This worke was donne by Thomas Noyse, deceased, & refused to be sub- 
scribed vnto by Lieftennant Challice, being left alone to make his returne 
to the honord Court by him, who is your servant wherein you shall com- 
mand, John Parker." 

The Court approved of this report in the following words : — 

" The Court doe approoue of this returne of the bounds of Haverill, so 
farr as the same was statedf by Ensign NoysC & the rest of the comittee 
appointed therevnto before the death of Ensigne Noyse ; but as for the 
bounds between Haverill & Salisbury New toune, it is settled as this 
Court hath determined this session."! 

This being the first regular survey and marking of the west line of the 
town, and, as we shall see, the fixing of its whole boundary line, by the 

« started. t Ibid. 

X We have already copied the order of the Court here referred to, under date of 1(454. 



102 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

General Court, it is worthy of more than a passing notice. The bounds 
established at this time remained unchanged until the setting oflF, or lay- 
ing out, of Methuen, in 1725, — a period of nearly sixty years. 

We have taken special pains to collect a complete history of our town 
bounds, and have, fortunately, been successful. We have made thorough 
search in the archives of this State, and also of New Hampshire, and 
brought to light much interesting and important information upon the sub- 
ject. We have found, and taken copies of, every plan and map of the 
town, taken by Colonial and State authority, from its first survey, in 1667, 
to 1832. 

Among them is the first plan of the town ever drawn — that of Ensign 
Noyes, as finished by Jonathan Danforth, in 1667, — and which we have 
had engi'aved for this work. 

As early as October, 1640, (within a few months of the first settlement 
of the town) a committee was chosen by the General Court to " view the 
bounds between Colchester (Salisbury) & Mr. Ward's plantation ; " 
which we presume was done. At the next June Court, commissioners were 
appointed " to set out the bounds of Salisbury & Pentucket, alias Haver- 
hill," and " to determine the bounds which Mr Ward & his company are 
to enjoy as a toune or village." We can find no report of the doings of 
either of these committees, and have come to the conclusion that their 
doings extended no further than a "viewing," or indefinite location, of 
the line between these two towns. We are confident that they did not 
determine the boimds which Mr. Ward and his company icere to enjoy as a 
town or village. 

In 1647, the town petitioned for a large tract of land somewhere to the 
northwest of the present town limits, to which the General Court made 
answer that they thought four miles square was enough for them. Whether 
this four miles square referred to the whole area they should have as a 
town, or to the tract of land then granted them, does not clearly appear 
from the record, but we are confident that it referred to the latter.'"' 

In 1650, another committee was appointed to "lay out the bounds be- 
tween Haverhill and Salisbury," which fact strengthens the opinion that 
the previous committees merely " viewed" the bounds, and did not regu- 
larly survey and mark the line. This last committee, however, did make 
such a survey, and we hear nothing more about the matter until 1654, 
when the town petitioned the General Court for a new surve}^ on the 

= The Indian deed conveyed fourteen miles on the River, and six miles back from the River, and it 
docs not seem to us consistent with the usages of the times, that the Court should cut them down to a 
mere four miles square. 



HISTORY OF HATERHILL, 103 

ground tliat a " great mistake was made in the former. The request 
was granted, and the result proved that a mistake had been made. The 
decision of the last appointed surveyors was not, it seems, satisfactory to 
either party, (clearly showing that it was about right) and the subject 
continued to occupy and trouble the minjs of the inhabitants of both 
towns, until the General Court approved the survey of 1667, and firmly 
decided that the line agreed upon in 1654, " should be the dividing line 
betwene them." 

When the General Court ordered its gi-ant to Major General Daniel 
Dennison to be laid out, in 1660, it was found that the Haverhill men 
claimed some of the land, and objected to its being laid out to the Major." 
Upon this, the Court summoned the town " to shew a reason why they 
have marked bounds trees at so great a distance from their towne vp 
Meremacke Eiver, & also to give an account of the bounds of theire towne, 
& vpon what right they lay clajme to so long a tract of land/' It would 
seem from this, that the western line of the town had been previously run, 
and marked, though we can find no record of its being ordered, or done, 
except those already mentioned. It is probable, however, that it was 
done by the toion, a few years previously, when the lands in that section 
were lAid out by them to the inhabitants of the town. Their Indian deed 
gave them " eight miles from ye Little Eiver westward ; " but the General 
Court declared it should be eight miles upon the river westward from 
their meeting house. This made a difference of three-fourths of a mile. 

The easterly bound of the town was now (1666) a due northwest line 
from Holt's Eocks, (the present bound), and when the commissioners came 
on to lay out the western bounds, they commenced at the meeting house, 
and run a line due west, eight miles, according to their interpretation of 
the order of the General Court. That order, however, says " not extend- 
ing upon the river above eight miles from their meeting house." By run- 
ning due west from the latter point, instead of following the river, it gave 
the town a much larger area than it would have given them by following 
the crooked, or general southwesterly course of the river. This difference 
was not less than four miles, upon the river ; thus giving the town a tract 
of land, equal to about four miles by twelve, more than a strict interpreta- 
tion of the order of the General Court would have allowed them. 



» Since the above was m-itten, we have found, under date of 1741, a petition from John Denison, a 
descendant of the Major above mentioned, to the proprietors of the common and undivided lands in 
Haverliill, in which it is m.ade to appear that thirty acres of the land laid out to the Major in 1660, actu- 
ally fell within Haverhill bounds when the west line of the town was run in 1667 ; and that, in 1740, one 
Lyndly petitioned the Haverhill proprietors to purchase this thirty acres of them. To such a sale the 
petitioner (J. D.) objected, and to avoid all future trouble, requested the proprietors to give him their 
quit claim to the land, — which they did. 



104 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 



We do not learn that the Haverhill people made any objection to this 
course, and as it more than made up the difference between their bounds 
as o-iven in the original deed, and that in the order of the Court, we pre- 
sume they were quite willing to keep quiet. 

From the point eight miles west of the meeting house, a line was run 
due north and south, extending to the Merrimack on the south, and to the 
intersection of the northwest line from Holt's Rocks on the north. This 
gave the township nearly the form of a triangle. The length of the north- 
east ancle was about fifteen miles ; of the west line rather more ; and an 
air line from Holt's Rocks, to the southwest cOmer, would have been also 
about fifteen miles. 

The following engraving is made from the original plan, as drawn by 
Jonathan Danforth, from this survey by Ensign Noyes. 




"thi3 platform of the town of hanerill began by ensign Noise of Sudbury and finished by Jonathan 
Danforth 16. 3d m. 1607." 

The General Court approved of the report of the commissioners, and, 
for the first time, the bounds of the town were apparently well defined 
and understood. 

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the original area of the town 
was much greater than the present. This difference is not. however, gen- 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



105 



erally known by its present inhabitants ; and even those who do know 
something of former changes in its bounds, have but a vague idea of their 
extent. The following map shows, uot only its past and present bounds, 
but also those portions that have been from time to time taken off, in 
forming new towns, and in running the present State line. There are 
several inaccuracies in the map, which were not noticed in season for their 
correction. The most important, is, the representing of the west line of 
Methuen and the old west line of Haverhill, as touching the Merrimack 
at the same point, whereas the distance between them should have been 
about one and a half miles. With this exception, the map is sufficiently 
correct for the purpose for which it is here introduced. 




MAP or HAVEBHILL, AND ADJACENT TOWNS. 

If we start from the site of the first meeting house, (in the old burying 

ground,) and run a line due west, eight miles, it will bring us to a point 

about four miles northwest of Methuen village. A line due south from 

this point, will pass a little over two miles to the west of the above village, 

14 



106 HISTORY OF HAVKRHILL. 

and strike the Merrimack River about three and a half miles above the 
upper bridge at Lawrence, and within about one and a half miles of 
the present southwest coi-ner of Methuen. This last named line, was the 
old western bound of Haverhill, as confirmed in 16(37, and continued 
until 1725. 

A glance at the foregoing map, will show, that the town then included 
the largest part of Methuen ; a large part of Salem and Plaistow ; all of 
Atkinson ; and a good share of Hampstead. 

In 1667, the highway " down the vallay to Holt's Rocks " was ordered 
to be laid out ; but, with the impression that it would not be much used, 
the town considerately accompanied the order with a proviso that those 
who used the highway should keep it in repair. 

At the same time a vote was passed declai-ing that the inhabitants 
should keep the places assigned them by the committee in the meeting 
house, andcr a penalty of two shillings six-pence. The selectmen were 
ordered to see that the rule was attended to. John Hutchins was, how- 
ever, excepted ; — probably on account of his large interest in the house, 
for building the gallery. 

Another lot of " accommodation " land was laid out in July of the same 
year. The following are the names and the number of acres laid out to 
each man : — 



" Mr AYard six & twenty 


acres. 


Job Clements^ 


5 


James Davis sen & jun 


20 


Hugh Sherratt 


8 


George Browne 


14 


John Robinson 


4 


John Eaton sen 


10 


Goodman Butler 


4 


Henry Palmer 


9 


Henry Savage 


4 


Robert Eyre 


4 


Joseph Merrie 


5 


Oldgood Eyre 


8 


George Corley 


5 


John Ayres 


8 


Mill Lotf 


6 


Wm White 


5 


James Pecker 


2 


Goodman Peasley 


12 


Richard Littlehale 


4 


Goodman Guile 


4 


Mr Coffin 


10 


Goodman Tiler 


4 


John Remington 


4 


Mr Clements, John, & Job 


40 


Robt Swan 


2 


Old Goldwine 


8 


John Hutchings 


6 


Goodman Heath 


10 


Daniel Ella 


2 


Andrew Grealey 


6 


Joseph Johnson 


2 


Goodman Moise 


4 


John Davis 


6 


Thos Haile 


20 


Job Clements^'-' 


3 


Thos Davis 


18 


Daniel Hendricks 


3 


Goodman Ladd 


6 


John Robinson 


6 


Goodman "Williams 


6 







• It will be noticed there were three of this name. 

t In all the drafts and diviaions of land, the "Mill Lot" is mentioned as receiving a portion, or lot. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 107 

At the annual town meeting of 1668, "John Johnson was chosen Mod- 
erator for the present meeting." This is the first mention we find of such 
an officer, in the records, though one was regularly chosen afterward. 

At the same time, a committee was chosen, to whom the inhabitants 
were to " make known by what title they lay any claim to anj'^ land in 
the town." 

Several absentees from town meeting were fined for the oflFence. This 
illustrates one of the marked characteristics of the early settlers of the 
colony. Not to do that which ought to be done, was considered as worthy 
of punishment, as to do that which ought not to be done. It was neces- 
sary that there should be town meetings, to transact the business of the 
town; therefore every voter ought to attend, and do his part of the labor; 
and, hence, if he did not, he neglected his duty ; and a neglect of duty 
was considered deserving of punishment ; and being so considered, they 
never failed to administer it when occasion called for it. This is the key 
to much in their history that at first seems strange and inconsistent. They 
believed that extravagance in dress was not only foolish, but wrong ; — 
and they punished the offender. They believed the Sabbath to be a day 
set apart for a rest from secular labors ; — and they punished him who 
would not so observe it. They considered worship a duty, and religious 
meetings a part of worship ; therefore, every man was obliged to attend 
religious services, and help pay for their support. They were stern men, 
— those old Puritans, — and did some hard things ; but they were men of 
inflexible fidelity to their convictions of right and duty ; and though we 
may dissent from their judgment, we cannot but honor them for their good 
intentions, and their uncompromising hostility to what they believed to 
be wrong. 

The town continued to be exceedingly jealous for the timber ; almost 
every year, a vote was passed for its preservation, and this year, a fine of 
ten shillings was imposed upon any person, who should fall a white, red, 
or black-oak tree, within the town's limits, "for staves, heading, logs for 
boards, or any thing else for transportation, without leave from the Select 
men from year to year." 

At the same meeting, Nathaniel Saltonstall was chosen Town Eecorder 
and Clerk of the ^Vrits ; in which offices he continued until 1700, — a 
period of thirty-two years. At the May session of the General Court, 
♦' Capt Nathaniel Saltonstall " was (in answer to a petition) authorized to 
join persons in marriage." 

° Mr. James Savage, who has made extensive historical and genealogical researches, stated at a meet- 
ing of the Massachusetts Historical Society some time since, that he had discovered no record of a mar- 
riage performed by a clergyman in New England prior to 1686, except in George's Province by a 



108 



HISTOBY OP HATERHILt. 



Nathaniel Saltonstall was descended from an ancient and highly re- 
spectable family in Yorkshire, England. His grandfather, Sir Eichard 
Saltonstall, was the first named associate of the six original patentees 
of Massachusetts, and one of the first Assistants, and was present at their 
court, August 23, 1630. He came over in the same ship with Governor 
Winthrop, in 1630, and was the leader among the first settlers of Water- 
town. He brought over with him three sons and two daughters. He 
returned to England in the spring of 1631, taking with him his two 
daughters and his youngest son. He did not return to America. His 
father, Richard, was born in 1610, and came to America with his father, in 
1630. He was admitted a freeman in 1631. In November of the same 
year, he returned to England, where he remained about four years and a 
half, and married Mericll Gurdon, daughter of Brampton Gurdon, of Suf- 
folk, with whom he again embarked for America, in 1635. Upon his 
arrival, he settled in Ipswich, and was elected Deputy to the General 
Court in the same year. He was elected Assistant in 1637, and continued 
to be elected annually, until 1649, when he again returned to England. 
He was in America twice afterward, and returned to England finally in 
1683, and died at Hulme, April 29, 1694, aged 84. 

Nathaniel, was born in Ipswich, and graduated at Harvard, in 1659. 
He married Elizabeth AVard, daughter of Eev. John Ward, of Haverhill, 
December 28, 1G63, and settled in this town about the same time, upon 
that beautiful estate half a mile east of the village, which was conveyed 
to him by his father-in-law, on the occasion of his marriage. In 1664, 
his father also deeded him eight hundred acres of land " on his marraige." 
In 1665, he was chosen Captain of the military company in town; was 
afterward appointed Colonel ; and, still later, was elevated to the impor- 
tant post of Major. He was regularly chosen Assistant from 1679 to 
1686, when the charter of Massachusetts Bay was taken away, and he was 
named in the commission as one of " the council of the Governor of Massa- 
chusetts Bay." As he had a few days before taken the oath of Assistant 

m — ' 

clergrman of the Church of Ena;hind. The statement elicited some discussion. It was accounted for hy 
the fact that marriage was'considered by the Puritans to be a civil contract and not a religious rite. In 
abjuring the forms and ceremonies of the Established Church as oflshoots of Popery, the marriage sacra- 
ment was also abandoned. Wintlirop's History of New England contains the following : — 

" 1647, 4, -ith day, Gth month. There was a great marriage to be solemnized at Boston. The bride- 
groom being of Hingham, Mr. HubbanVs thurih, hf was procured to preach, and cnme to Boston to that 
end. But the mugistintis, hearing of it, si'Dt to him to forbcr.r. The re:;sons were : 1. For that his 
spirit had been discovered to be averse to our ecclesiastical and civ'l government: and he was a bold man 
and would speak his mind. 2. We were not willing to bring irf the English custom of ministers pirfoim- 
ing the solemnities of marriage, which sermons at such times might induce; but if any ministers were 
presint, and would bestow a word of exhortation, Ac., it was permitt«d," 



HISTOKY OF HATERHILL. 109 

under the old charter, he refused the latter appointment, and, upon the 
deposition of Sir Edmund, he became one of the Council which took 
the government of the Colony into their hands. He continued in this 
office until the arrival of the Charter of William and Mary, wherein he 
was appointed one of their Majesty's Council. 

In 1680, he went with the Deputy Governor and others, " with 60 sol- 
diers, in a ship and sloop from Boston, to still the people at Casco Bay, 
& prevent Gov Andres's usurpation." In 1683, he was appointed by the 
Crown one of the Commissioners " to examine & enquire into the claims 
& titles, as well of his Majesty as others, to the Narraganset country," to 
which important mission he attended. 

He was a man of superior powers of mind, and rare talent. In 1692, 
he was appointed one of the judges in a special commission of Oyer and 
Terminer, for the trial of persons accused of witchcraft, at Salem. With a 
high-minded liberality, and freedom from the bigotry and superstition of the 
time, worthy of his immediate ancestry, he refused to serve in that com- 
mission, from conscientious scruples. Brattle, in his account of the witch- 
craft, says : " Maj N Saltonstall Esq, who was one of the judges, has left 
the court, & is very much dissatisfied with the proceedings of it." His 
bold stand was powerful for good. It opened the eyes of the masses to 
the enormity and fearful tendency of the delusion; — the^ charm was 
broken, and the excitement soon subsided. It is no small . honor to his 
memory, and satisfaction to his descendants, that he was not carried away 
by this dreadful fanaticism. 

Mr. Saltonstall lived to a good old age, and died May 21st, 1707. He 
left three sons, Gurdon, Kichard, and Nathaniel. His only daughter mar- 
ried (1st) Eev. John Dennison, and (2d) Kev. Eolland Cotton, of 
Sandwich. 

The town voted, in 1668, that one of the former Selectmen should be 
re-elected each year ; but the very next year it was " set aside for this 
year," and in the year following, it was repealed altogether. Why this 
obviously sensible and important rule should have been so soon abolished, 
seems somewhat surprising. Perhaps it should be referred to their well 
known opposition to succession in office, or, most probable, to 4;he fact, 
that the office of Selectman in those days, included " hard work and poor 
pay," and it was not easy to find men willing, or even able, to accept the 
onerous position two years in succession. 

The Selectmen of this year were directed "'to provide a herdsman or 
herdsmen, and bulls, for the use of the town." Those who lived without 



110 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

the compass of Pond Eiver and the Great Plain'"' fence," were to " pay 
6d a head for privileges of herdsmen & bull." 

It was also ordered " that what papers shall be brought to the Eecorder, 
to be entered in the town book of Eecords, it shall be in his power to rec- 
ord them, provided, that Ensign Browne, James Davis Jun, & Bobert Cle- 
ments Jr, give their assent." The Eecorder was sometimes troubled, it 
seems, by persons wanting papers recorded on the town books, which 
properly belonged elsewhere, or were not worth recording, and he fre- 
quently drops a hint to that effect in his record. Thus, he introduces his 
record of several deeds with the following note : — " The copy of several 
Deeds, which to satisfy the grantees, are entered, who they are told that 
it is no legal County Eecord of Deeds," 

The only new names met with this year in the records, are Henry 
Kingsbcry, and John Eemington. 

The highway from Haverhill Ferry to Topsfield was accepted in the 
spring of 1669, as we learn from the Ipswich Court Eecords. 

That town ofl&ces were not much sought for in those times, may be 
judged from the fact that the town, having chosen Thos. "VVhittier con- 
stable, voted, that he should be excused, provided he presented some one 
to take his place whom the Selectmen should declare satisfactory. 

Upon a complaint made by Mr. Ward for want of wood, it was voted 
to add ten pounds to his salary (which was fifty pounds) , and that the 
Selectmen should annually expend it in procuring him cord- wood, at six 
shillings per cord. 

Among the votes passed at the same meeting, we find the following 
curious one : — " The town, by a major vote, did make choice of Andrew 
Greely, sen., to keep the ferry at Haverhill; provided that he agree and 
will carry over the Inhabitants of the town, and the inhabitants of the 
town of I\Ierrimack, [Bradford] over against us, for three pence an horse, 
and a penny a man ; and that he will carry all Ministers over free that 
come upon visitation to us, and in particular Mr Symes ;f & that, if the 
inhabitants of the town over against us do come over to meet with us on 
the sabbath days, they shall have the free use of the ferry boat, or boats, 
for the occasion, without paying anything." They also stipulated that 
he should pay the widow of the former ferryman^ forty shillings. 

Pond River, wna the outlet to Great Pond ; and the Great riain, was the phiin east of the village, 
t The person here referred to, was Rev. Zachariuh Synimcs, of Bradford, a man of considerable note 

and learning, and much beloved by his own people, as well as esteemed by his neighbors across the river. ' 
Mr. Symmes was educated at Cambridge, and graduati'd in 16.")7- He came to Bradford somttime pre- 
vious to 1663, at which date he was their minister, though he was not ordained until 1682. He remained 
with them until his death, in 1707. 

1 Mr. Sinionsi, 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. Ill 

This year a new bridge was built over Little Eiver, where the present 
Winter Street Bridge stands. The old bridge had become much out of re- 
pair, and though it was considered that the " present sawmill owners were 
engaged to do it," yet when the question was put to Thos. Davis, in town 
meeting, he plainly answered, " I will not." Upon this, the meeting 
voted to prosecute him, but the next vote declared this vote to be "nulled 
and void." Finally, a committee was chosen to "compound the matter 
with Davis, & to build a new bridge." The inhabitants were each obliged 
to contribute a portion of labor toward constructing it. 

From a vote passed this year, we learn that the first half of Mr. Ward's 
yearly salary was paid by a "collection of estates," in August, and all 
other charges and debts were paid by " a collection of estates, in Novem- 
ber, or December, annually." Upon notice by the Selectmen, every man 
was obliged to bring in to them an account of his estates. If any man ne- 
glected or refused to do this, or bi'ought in a false account, it was " in the 
power of the Selectmen to rate such persons by will, and doom as they 
please upon account of their defect." 

The town still continued to be troubled about a corn-mill, as will be 
seen by the following record of a special town meeting, held September 
17,1669: — 

" This meeting being warned to take some order about a corn-mill, the 
town being wholly destitute of any ; Andrew Greeley," in whose hands the 
mill was, being about to carry on a mill at the East meadow river, upon 
the motion & desire of the town, did promise to take the frame down at 
the little river, & bring it up & raise it at the place where the former mill 
was ; f many of the inhabitants at the same time promising to allow him 
freely some help towards the taking the frame down & raising it again." 

The powers of the Selectmen, as defined by the town the same year, 
were as follows: — 

" That the Selectmen shall carefully endeavour the strict observation of 
all orders made by the town, and shall take all fines, if not peaceably 
paid, by distress, which shall be due upon the breach of said order, unless 
they shall see good ground to the contrary, & shall make return to the 
town, at the general yearly march meeting, of what they have done in 
this matter, & how they have disposed of the fines. 

" That the Selectmen shall see to, & pay all debts due from the town in 
their year, or j list J arrears according to their discretion the fines that are 
due to the town, or by rates in general upon the inhabitants. 

• Andrew Greely was by trade a shoe-ipaker. He was in Haverhill in 1616 and in 1672. At the latter 
date, he was 52 years of age. He died previous to 1712. 
t The former mill stood on Mill Brook. j Adjust. 



112 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

" That the Selectmen shall timely make all rates that shall be neces- 
sary for the defraying of the town's debts, upon the estates of the inhabi- 
tants. 

" That the Selectmen have power to call town meetings as they shall 
see necessary, they giving timely and sufl&cient notice to the inhabitants, 
according to law. 

" That the Selectmen shall take special care that all those laws of the 
country are observed & kept by the neglect whereof the town may any 
way be liable to be fined by authority ; and also that the town be kept 
from all charges." 

The General Court for October, ordered, " that George Broune be left, 
and James Parker ensigne, to Hauerill millitary company, vnder the con- 
duct of ^Nathaniel Saltonstall, capt." =■•■' 

On the seventeenth of November, there was a " thanksgiving for relief 
from droutht & lengthening out the harvest." f 

The only new name we find in the Town Kccords of this year, is that 
of Samuel Colbie. 

»Col.Rec tibid. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. lU 



CHAPTEE IX. 



1670 TO 1675. 



In examining the records of our town for the past two hundred years, 
one cannot fail to note the gi*eat changes that have taken place in that 
time. Habits, customs, laws, and language, have all yielded, in a'"grcater 
or less degree, to the ever active and never tiring power of — progress. 
A striking illustration of this fact is seen in the history of our common 
schools. 

For several years previous to 1670, (viz. : from 1661) a school-master 
had been employed to keep a school in the town, but the records, up to 
this time, give us no hints in addition to that simple fact, except that he 
was paid ten pounds per annum by the town for such service. But in the 
records of the annual meeting of 1670, we find the following, which throws 
much additional light upon the matter: — "It is ordered by a major or 
free vote of the inhabitants, that the Selectmen shall agree with a School ■ 
Master for the keeping of a school in the town of Haverhill, who shall 
allow him Ten pounds annually, to be rated upon the inhabitants proportion- 
able to their estates according to the way of making Mr Ward's rates ; & 
what children do come to him to be taught, the selectmen being to provide 
a convenient place to keep the school in, shall pay to the schoolmaster ac- 
cording as he & the parents or masters of such as come to be taught can 
agree for, provided that he do not ask for a child or person more than is 
usually given in other towns by the year." 

From the above, we learn that the ten pounds paid by the town, was in 
addition to the amount received by the school-master from the parents of 
his pupils. As to the latter sum, we can find no definite account, or even 
hint, in the records. Previous to this time, the school had been kept in 
some j)rivate house, but the number of the scholars had now become so 
large, it was considered necessary that a building should be erected ex- 
pressly for the purpose, and at the same meeting the following vote was 
passed : — 

" Voted that forthwith there shall be a house erected & built as near 
the meeting house that now is, as may be, which may be convenient for 
the keeping of a public school in, & for the service of a watch-house, & 
for the entertainment of such persons on the sabbath days at noon as 
shall desire to repair thither, & shall not repair between the forenoon & 
15 



114 HISTORY OF HATERniLL, 

afternoon exercises to their own dwellings : which house is to he erected 
upon that which is now the town's common land or reserved for puhlic 
use." 

The town also voted that in case the contrihutions voluntarily offered 
were not sufficient to erect the school-house, that they should be laid aside, 
and the whole charge he paid by a public rate (tax) upon the inhabitants 
The charge of the work was left to William White, Peter Ayers and 
Nathaniel Saltonstall. Thomas Wasse was chosen to keep the school the 
ensuing year. A striking illustration of the financial condition of the town 
at this period, is found in the fact that Wasse's salary for 1668 was not 
paid until more than three years afterward. 

At the same meeting, the " powers of the selectmen" were defined. The 
following is the substance. They had power: 1. To order and appoint 
when Mr. AVard's salary should be paid, levy rates for the same, and to 
take them by distress if not paid otherwise. 2. To observe all orders of 
the town, and collect all fines. 3. To pay all debts of the town, by fines 
due, or by rates in general. 4. To make all rates necessary to defray the 
town's debts. 5. To call town meetings at discretion. 6. To see that 
all laws of the County were observed and kept. 7. To act in all pruden- 
tial affairs of the town according to law. 8. To observe all orders of the 
town as near as they can. 

The same record informs us that Henry Palmer refused to serve as Con- 
stable after being chosen, and " was fined according to law ! " 

Our ancestors must have been early risers, as we notice that the town 
meetings often commenced at seven o'clock, A. M., and were never adjourned 
to a later hour than eight, A. M. 

If any suppose that " talking in town meeting " has increased in these 
latter days, we would remind them that as early as the time of which we 
now write, it frequently took three days to transact the business at the 
annual meetings, notwithstanding they commenced at such an early hour 
as above mentioned. The time occupied, and the small number of votes 
usually passed, clearly indicate that our early townsmen were not at all 
deficient in the "gift of gab." 

One of the noticable peculiarities of the Town Eecords about this time, 
is, that the Recorder gives the names of those who " dissented " from any 
vote passed by the town. It is somewhat remarkable that but very few 
names are thus recorded : especially when we consider that so much time 
was spent in discussions, and that nearly all town matters, large and 
small, were acted upon directly by the inhabitants, in Town Meeting 
assembled. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 115 

About this time the town resolved that no vote should be valid that was 
passed after sunset — an excellent regulation. 

From the Court Eecords we learn, that, in 1671, a thatched house, be- 
longing to one Matthias Button, and situated somewhere near the present 
house of Mr. Thomas West, (one mile northeasterly from the village) was 
burnt. The incident is worthy of mention, principally, from the fact that 
it was a " thatched " house, and we find but few intimations in the records 
of the time, as to the style of houses in the town. 

Button was a Dutchman and seems to have been an unusually moveable 
one. He first lived in the village, then in the western part of the town, 
then in the eastern, and finally settled where his house was burned. Eev, 
Thomas Cobbett say that Button came to this country in 1628, with the 
first governor of Massachusetts. He was of Ipswich in 1639, and came 
to Haverhill in 1646, from that place. He died in 1672, at a gi'eat age.* 

From the fact that a Committee was chosen to find if they could, one of 
the highways which had been previously laid out by the town, we judge 
that such laying out was not as thoroughly done as it is at present. It 
may also be mentioned in this place, as a suggestive fact, that no record 
is made of any work whatever done to highways, (unless we except two or 
three bridges,) until long after the period of which we write. Their best 
and only highways were merely paths, or tracks, ungraded, and bridgeless, 
except here and there a rude bridge across the larger streams. 

From the record of the same meeting, we make the following extract : — 

" Kobert Emerson, Ephraim Davis, & John Heath Jun, desiring to take 
the oath of fidelity to this Colony, it was administered to them by N Sal- 
tonstal. Commissioner." 

At this time, no one was allowed to vote in the nomination of magis- 
trates, and choice of deputies, (Eepresentatives) unless he had taken the 
" freeman's oath," or "oath of fidelity." A man might be a freeholder 
and not a freeman, and vise versa. He might be a voter in town afi'airs, 
and yet neither be a freeholder nor a freeman. A freeman was one who 
had taken the freeman's oath.f A freeholder was one who, either by grant, 
purchase, or inheritance, was entitled to a share in all the common and 
undivided lands. When any town ofiicers were to be chosen, or money 

* By his wife Lettice, he had Mary, baptised February 23, 1634 ; and Daniel, February 22, 1G35. By 
his wife Teagle, he had six children (see appendix). He married Elizabeth Dnston in 1668. Daniel, 
■ probably a son of Matthias, was in Lothrop's company, and was killed at Bloody Brook battle, Sep- 
tember 18, 1675. 

t At first. (1631) only members of the church were admitted freemen • — " For time to come noe man 
shalbc :i<!mitted to the freedome of this body poUiticke, but such as are members of some of the churches 
within the lymits of the same." — Col. Rec 1 — 87. 



■v^' 



IIG niSTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

raised by way of rate, all the inhabitants could vote ; but when a magis- 
trate was to be nominated, or Deputy to General Court chosen, only free- 
men were allowed that privilege. 

The town was yet in want of more com mill accommodations, and as 
those to whom had been granted the exclusive privilege of erecting such 
mills iu town, seemed, for some reason, to be unable, or disinclined, to 
supply them, it was voted (March 7, 1671,) that "John Haseltine or any 
other man, have free liberty to build a mill to grind corn in the town of 
Haverhill, either upon the west river -^ called the sawmill river, or upon 
east meadow river, f" 

At the annual meeting in 1672, the selectmen were ordered " to pro- 
vide, at the town's cost, a place in the Meeting House, according to law, 
to secure the town's stock of powder, & other ammunition." At this meet- 
ing Robert Emerson and wife brought to the town meeting the orphan 
child of Richard and Hannah Mercer, and desired the town to take care of 
it, and also to pay them for nursing it above a year past. The town or- 
dered the selectmen to provide for it, and to pay Robert Emerson what they 
should find due him, and also to " address the County Court next at Salis- 
bery to have order from them, & counsel how to dispose of the said child, 
and maintain the same." Providing for their poor, as a town, was evi- 
dently a new business for them at this time. This, we believe, was the first 
case where application was made to them to support a pauper. The next, 
was the case of Hugh Sherratt, in 1677, which we have already noticed. 

At the same meeting it was voted, " that the Selectmen shall hire 
Thomas Wasse for a school master to learn such as shall resort to him, to 
write & read as formerly, who shall be the settled schoolmaster for the 
town, until the Town take further order : provided that they do not allow 
the said Thomas Wasse more than Ten pounds by the year ; he having the 
like liberty to agree with the parents or masters of those that come to him 
as formerly." 

At the very next annual meeting, this yearly salary was, by vote, 
" taken ofi", & no more to be allowed or rated for." Probably the amount 
received from the parents of the pupils had now, in the opinion of the 
town, become sufficient for the teacher's support, without this annual 
appropriation. 

From the Court Records of this year, we learn that two Indians, named 
Simon and Samuel, were fined five pounds, " for stealing Englishmen's 
horse." 

o Little River. 

t "East Meadow river," was the stream running from Peaslec's mill, nearly south, and emptying into 
the Merrimack, at Cottle's Kerry ; passing about one-fonrth of a mile east ol Uie East Parish Meeting 
Ilonso. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 117 

This Simon, or Symon, was one of the "Christian," or "converted" 
Indians, many of whom lived among the settlers, worked for them, and 
partially adopted civilized habits. Some of these demi-savages subse- 
quently became exceedingly troublesome to the settlers, and one of the 
worst, was this very Symon, who for several years made his home in this 
town, and Amesbury. He is described by one of the writers of the time, 
as " the arch villain and incendiary of all the eastward Indians " ; and he 
seems to have been an active spirit in several of the principal attacks upon 
the English in this vicinity. 

Upon the Files of the Hampton Court for this year, (1672) we find the 
following curious order of Court : — 

" At a Courte holden at Hampton, 8th of 8th mo. This Court being 
informed that John Littlehale of Haverhill, liveth in an house by himself 
contrary to the law of the Country whereby hee is subject to much sin ; and 
having had information of some of his accounts which are in no way to be 
allow'd of but disproved and discountenanced, doe therefore order that the 
said John doe forthwith, at farthest, within the time of six weeks next 
after the date hereof remove himself from the said place and solitary life 
and settle himself in some orderly family in the said towne and bee sub- 
ject to the orderly rules of family goverment in said family (unless hee 
remove out of the said towne within the time) and if he doe not perform 
this order as abovesaid then this Courte doth order that the Selectmen doe 
forthwith order and place the said John to bee in some orderly family as 
abovesaid, which if he shall refuse to submit unto, then these are in his 
majesties name to require the Constable of said town upon his knowledge 
of it, or information, to apprehend the person of said John and carry him 
to the house of correction in Hampton, there to bee kept and sett to work 
untill hee shall be freed by order of authority ; and this order shall bee a 
discharge and security." 

This order had the desired effect. John immediately removed to " some 
orderly family." ■= If, however, the order was intended as a hint that 
he ought to take to himself a wife, John was not over hasty in taking the 
hint, as he did not give up a "jolly bachelor's life " mxi\\ J orty-four years 
afterward, when he had attained the respectable age of sixty-six years. 
He then married and became the father of two children. 

At the annual meeting for 1673, the Clerk was ordered to enter " in the 
book" all the previous orders and grants of the town " which stand in 
loose papers & sheets." This vote accounts for the promiscuous manner 

^ John Littlehale, son of Richard, one of the pioneer settlers of the town, was born November 27, I60O. 
He was the third of a family of twelve children. His mother's maiden name was Mary Lancton. 



118 BISTORT OP HAVERHILL. 

in which the votes and grants of the town are recorded in the old book of 
Kecords, They were many of them first written on "loose papers & 
sheets," and when finally recorded, no regard was paid to their dates. 
Indeed, many of them are without date, making it difficult, and in some 
cases impossible, to assign them correctly. 

At the same meeting, " John Hutchins, having built galleries" in the 
meeting-house, was " allowed to sell seats or priveleges in the same to any 
one"; Robert Swan was ordered to ^' pull down ^^ a ditch he had made 
across one of the town's highways, or be prosecuted ; and Abraham Whit- 
ticker, having failed to pay his rent of "sixpense a year," for a certain 
piece of land belonging to the town, the latter took it into their own hands 
again. Abraham had occupied the land thirteen years, and had paid 
nothing. He must have been poor indeed, as he candidly told the town he 
was, when called on to know if he would pay his rent. 

From the Hampton records, we learn, that on the 24th of September of 
this year, " There was a storme of raine and snow so that the ground was 
covered with snow, & some of it continued until the 26th." 

When the older towns on the Merrimack were first settled, large quanti- 
ties of sturgeon were taken from the river, which were not only used and 
highly valued as an article of diet, but pickled and packed in kegs for 
transportation. Frequent allusions to this subject are made in the State 
and County records, and in old account books. AVood, who visited America 
in 1633, says: " Much sturgeon is taken on the banks of the Merrimack, 
twelve, fourteen, eighteen feet long, pickled and sent to England." We 
think that either his fish or the story must have been somewhat stretched, 
to come up to the number of feet given ! The Massachasetts Indians 
named the river Monomach, signifying sturgeon, of which they are said 
to have taken large quantities annually. 

We do not learn that many of these fish were ever put up in this town 
for exportation, but in the towns below, (Newbury and Salisbury) it was 
at one time quite an extensive business. In 1656, "a keg of sturgeon, 
ten shillings," was among the charges for entertaining an ecclesiastical 
council at Salisbury. In 1667, Israel Webster testified "that he carried 
twenty two firkins h kegs of sturgeon from William Thomas' cellar to 
send to Boston." In 1670, Joseph Coker was licensed by the County 
Court "to make sturgeon in order to transport." In 1680, the Court 
licensed Thomas Kogers " to make sturgeon, provided he shall present the 
court with a bowl of good sturgeon every Michaelmas court."-' As late 

" Hist. Newbury. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 119 

as 1733, and probably later, the business was carried on quite largely in 
Newbury. 

While the towns below seem to have nearly monopolized the sturgeon 
fishery, Haverhill was for a long time largely engaged in the curing and 
exportation of salmon and alewives. Previous to the building of dams 
and bridges across the Merrimack, its falls were noted for their salmon 
and its tributary streams for their alewive fisheries. 

The falls of Pentuckett, (Haverhill) Pawtucket, (Lowell) Namoskeag, 
(Manchester) and Pennycook, (Concord) were favorite places of resort for 
the Indians, during the fishing season, and, in consequence, became in time 
the seat of extensive Indian settlements, the difi'erent communities, or 
tribes, being known and distinguished by their place of settlement. 

Haverhill, from its favorable situation at the head of sloop navigation, 
and tide water, and at the first falls of the river, was not only one of the 
earliest and latest engaged in these fisheries, but also the largest. From 
the year 1654, when Stephen Kent was granted liberty "to place Bi,ioear 
in Little Kiver, to catch alewives," and 1657, when Thomas Hutchins was 
permitted " to set a wear in the Merrimack near the falls." until within 
the last twenty years, its fisheries have been no small item in the trade 
and commerce of the town. Persons aie still living who remember when 
nice dried salmon was so plenty in town, as to be a " drug " in trade, and 
well nigh unsaleable at the low price of four or five cents per pound ; 
and, in the fishing season, fine fresh salmon sold for even less than the 
price stated. It is well authenticated, that at one time it was nowise un- 
common to stipulate in the indentures of apprentices, that they should 
not be obliged to eat salmon oftener than six times a week ! As the 
streams and outlets of the ponds became obstructed, and their waters 
defiled, by dams, mills, and bridges, the supply of salmon rapidly 
diminished, and at the present time but few are annually taken in the 
Merrimack, while the quality of these is much inferior to those of former 
times. 

The same causes which prevented the salmon from continuing their an- 
nual visits to the ponds and streams of the interior, to deposit their spawn, 
also diminished the number of alewives. The latter, however, being less 
nice in their tastes, continued to " run " somewhat later than the former. 
It is but a few years since alewives were caught in considerable numbers 
in Little Paver, near the factory on Winter Street. 

Next to salmon and alewives, shad should be noticed in an account of 
our fisheries. We regret, however, that we have been unable to obtain 
much definite information in regard to this branch of business At one 



120 HISTOKY OF HAVERHILL. 

time it was carried on extensively, and, during the fishing season, gave 
profitable employment to hundreds of persons on the Merrimack. Shad 
were from time immemorial used by the Indians of New England to man- 
ure their corn, and from them the first settlers learned to use it for the 
same purpose. Whether they also used them as an article of diet, we 
have no means of knowing ; but from the fact that salmon, every way 
richer and superior, were so plentiful, and easily obtained, we are confi- 
dent that shad were not at first considered of much account as food. Even 
within the memory of persons now living, they have at times been caught 
in such large numbers as to be unsaleable, except for manure. It was no 
unusual occurrence to catch several hundreds at a single haul, even in the 
small seines used in the last century. In the New Hampshire Gazette, 
for May 13, 1760, we find the following item, illustrative of our point: — 

" Shad. — One day last week was drawn by a net at one draft Two 
Thousand Five Hundred and odd Shad Eish out of the River Merrimack 
near Bedford in this Province. Thought remarkable by some people." 

In these days, when fifty is reckoned a remarkably large " haul," even 
with our double seines, of twenty rods in length, the above number seems 
almost incredible. 

The causes we have already enumerated, also diminished the number of 
shad in the river, and since the erection of dams at Lowell, Lawrence, and 
other places, this branch of our fisheries has ceased to be profitable, 
and will doubtless soon be abandoned altogether. Bass are still caught 
here, in their season, but not in sufficient numbers to ofi"er much induce- 
ment to engage in the business, or to have it reckoned as a branch of our 
industry. 

The town seems to have been ever watchful and jealous of its timber. 
The very first vote of the first recorded meeting of the town, was to pre- 
vent its unnecessary destruction. When we remember that the town was 
then covered with a tliick and heavy growth of wood ; that an untrodden, 
and seemingly inexhaustable wilderness stretched itself between here and 
Canada, in which no smoke curled from the home of a white man ; it 
seems almost unaccountably strange that they should have been so careful 
of their timber. But so it was. No man was allowed to cut down more 
trees than he needed to supply his house fire for the season, or to furnish 
lumber for his own use. As "pipe staves" became an article of trade 
and export, and a convenient means to supply a few shillings of hard 
money to the settlers, the town voted that no one should have liberty to 
make more than "one hundred for every acre his house-lot contained," 
under the severe penalty of five shillings for every tree he felled more than 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. ]21 

was required, to make his proportion. Tkejexportation of lumber was also 
forbidden. It seems, however, that notwithstanding the severe penalties 
attached, these regulations were sometimes violated, and finally, the thing 
was done so openly, and extensively, that a town meeting was called (Jan. 
1, 1674), to consider the matter* The whole time of the meeting was oc- 
cupied in a consideration of this one subject, and it was finally voted 
unanimously, that timber for staves, heading, ship timber, or frames of 
houses, should not be transported out of town, or even "brought to water 
side." At the ensuing March meeting, a surveyor of boards, and a culler 
of staves, were chosen for the first time. James Pecker was chosen to 
the first, and Eobert Clement to the latter office. 

We have before noticed that the town seemed particularly desirous of 
securing the settlement of mechanics among them. That the cases men- 
tioned were not merely instances of strong personal friendship or influence, 
is evident from the general tenor of the record. Mechanics were needed 
to assist in developing the natural resources of the town, and as their 
presence and labor would add to the general comfort and prosperity, the 
town did not hesitate to offer to all such as seemed worthy, every possible 
inducement to settle among them. 

At the meeting last mentioned, (March, 167-i,) John Keyzar of Salem, 
was granted a piece of land, with privileges on the common, &c., if he 
would come " and set up his trade of tanner." He did so, and in 1682 
the town confirmed the grant to him and his heirs forever. 

That the duties of the Selectmen were not only manifold, but their pay 
not at all extravagant, may be judged from the fact that, among other 
things, they were " to have some one to sweep the meeting house duly, 
decently and orderly," and that their annual pay for all their services, 
was the sum of fifty shillings, which was to be distributed among them, 
" to each man according to his services." 

The subject of the town bounds, which had been permitted to rest quiet- 
ly for a few years following the running of the line in 1667, as we have 
already noted, was again brought up in 1674, by a request from the Se- 
lectmen of Haverhill, that the bounds might be " perfected." 

A reference to the report of John Parker to the General Court, under 
date of 1667, will show that at that time the line north from the point 
due west of the meeting house was started, but left unfinished. After 
waiting nearly seven years, and finding that the work was not likely to be 
" perfected " without an effort on their part, the town directed the Select- 
men to attend to the matter at once. The Selectmen thereupon employed 
IC 



122 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 

Jonathan Danforth, a somewhat distinguished surveyor, to finish the work 
begun in 1GG7. He did so, and at the May session of the General Court 
in 1675, presented the following report: 

" Att the request of the Selectmen of Hauerill, the bounds of the sajd 
toune were perfected as followeth : From Hoults Eocks wee ran due north 
west, according to the compasse, not allowing any variations, allowing 
Amesbury their full and just bounds, as hath binn determined by the 
honoured Generall Court ; all the other Ijnes on the west side of the plan- 
tation wee ran from Merremacke Eiuer due north, vntill it cut with the 
first Ijne, where wee erected a great pillar of stones; this last Ijnewas sett 
out and begun to run, by Ensigne Noyes and Saijant Jno. Parker, at eight 
miles distance from Hauerill meetting house, vpon a due west Ijne, which 
is according to the grant of the Generall Court ; the running Ijnes on 
both sides of the plantation were well bounded by markt trees, & heapes 
of stones, Lajed out 

By Jonathan Danforth, Survejer." 

The Court approved of the return, and thus, to use the language of the 
selectmen, " perfected " the bounds of the town, according to its order 
of 1667. 

As proof that the early inhabitants of the town were " subject to frailty 
and en-or," we cite the following, from the records of the County Court : — 

" Nathaniel Emerson was admonished by the Court for being in com- 
pany with Peter Cross, and others, at Jonas Gregory's, and drinking of 
stolen wine."'-' 

" Kobert Swan was fined 20s for being drunk and cursing."f 

" Michael Emerson was fined 5s for his cruel and excessive beating of 
his daughter with a flayle swingel, and kicking of her."| We think 
Michael had reason to congratulate himself on getting oft' so easily for his 
brutal conduct. 

Two daughters of Hanniel Bosworth were fined ten shillings each for 
wearing silk.§ This was contrary to the law, for persons in their station 
of life. " Bravery in dress " was strictly forbidden. 

Hannah Button was sentenced by the Court to be whipped, or pay a 
fine of forty shillings, for misdemeanors. 

Daniel Ela was made an example of, for swearing, in the amount of ten 
shillings ; and two shillings were added for his " reviling speeches." We 
may charitably suppose that Daniel was by this not only convinced of the 
wickedness, but of the expensiveness of such conduct, and became a wiser 
and better man. 

o 1673. t 1674. t IWd. § 1676. 



XIISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 123 



CHAPTEE X. 



INDIAN TROUBLES. FROM 1675 TO 1678. 



In the preceding chapters, we have followed the early settlers of our 
town, year by year, through their first third of a century, — the lifetime 
of a generation, — and, except the privations and hardships incident to all 
new settlements at that early period, we find their history one of continued 
peace and prosperity. They had increased in population and wealth from 
a small pioneer company of twelve men, until their town ranked as the 
twenty-fifth of the forty-nine towns in the Colony. They were, as far as 
we can judge, a happy, prosperous, and peaceful community. Their reli- 
gious teacher was a man distinguished for his upright Christian character, 
and, influenced by his example, his people prided themselves on the purity 
of their moral conduct, and the extreme exactness of their religious devo- 
tions. We have no hesitation in saying that there was no settlement 
in the Colony, containing a less nvimber of idle and vicious persons, in 
proportion to the population, than Haverhill. The small number of 
prosecutions for immoral conduct, to be found on the Court Files, attest 
the truth of our declaration. "VYould that the record of the succeeding 
third of a century were equally pleasant to contemplate ; that the peaceful, 
happy homes of Pentucket, were, for another generation, to rest undis- 
turbed and prosperous. But it is otherwise. 

The year 1675, is memorable for a war with the Indians, called King 
Phillip's War, which was the most general and destructive ever sustained 
by the infant colonies. Phillip, king of the Wampanoags,' resided at 
Mount Hope, in Rhode Island, and was the grandson and successor of 
Massasoit, with whom the Plymouth colonists had made a treaty fifty 
years before. For a long time he had been jealous of the whites, and had 
used every efi"ort to induce all the Indian tribes to unite and exterminate 
them, and thus preserve their hunting grounds and their independence. 
The immediate cause of the war, was the execution of three Indians by the 
English for the murder of one Sausaman, a Christian Indian, who had 
informed the whites of the plot Phillip was forming against them. Hav- 
ing incited them to the murder, Phillip determined to avenge their deaths, 
and commenced hostilities, and by his influence drew into the war most of 
the tribes of iSTew England. Through their intercourse with the whites, the 
Indians had acquired the use of fire-arms, and notwithstanding the strin- 



124 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

gent laws against selling or giving them guns or ammunition, they had by 
various means obtained possession of enough to do terrible execution in 
the war which now burst upon the colonists. 

Early in the year 1675, the inhabitants of Haverhill began to think 
seriously of taking measures to defend themselves from the Indians. Some 
years previous, a fortification was built around the meeting-house, but the 
peaceable appearance of the Indians, and the free intercourse that existed 
between them and the whites, had lulled all suspicion of danger, and 'the 
works were suffered to fall into decay. But now the Indians began to 
show symptoms of hostility, and the whole town became alarmed. A meet- 
ing was called, February 1 9th, to concert measures to prevent the threatened 
danger, and it was voted that " the Selectmen shall forthwith cause the 
fortifications (around the Meeting-house) to be finished, to make port 
holes in the walls, to right up those places that are defective and likely to 
fall, and to make a flanker at the east corner, that the work, in case of 
need, may be made use of against the common enemy." At the same time, 
Daniel Ladd, Peter Ayer, and Thomas AVhittier, were appointed to desig- 
nate what houses should be garrisoned ; and the " old brush and top wood " 
on the common, was ordered to be burnt. 

Jn view of the impending peril, the General Court took active measures 
to protect the frontier settlements, by furnishing the troopers and militia 
with fire-arms and ammunition, and ordering the several towns to provide 
fortifications and gan'isons, without delay. 

These precauti ms were scarcely completed when the storm burst upon 
them with remorseless fury. Early in the following spring, (March 19, 
167G,) the town was startled by the intelligence that the Indians were 
crossing the Merrimack from Wamesit (Lowell) . Couriers were at once 
dispatched from Haverhill and Andover, to Ipswich, for aid. Major Den- 
nison, of Ipswich, from whose letter of the above date we gather these 
particulars, writes to the Governor, that there was a gi-eat alarm in those 
towns, and he was sending up sixty men.''^ The rumor proved unfounded, 
but the hostile intentions of the Indians were not to be mistaken, and fear 
seized upon the people of the exposed settlements. 

The town of Andover was the first to sufi^er. In a letter to the Gover- 
nor,! (April 7.) imploring for help, they inform him that their town had 
been twice attacked, and the inhabitants had begun to move away.- 

Haverhill was not long permitted to escape the murderous tomahawk. 
On the 2d of May, one of its own people, Ephraim Kingsbury, was killed 
by the Indians. He is believed to have been the first person slain in this 

o Sttite Archives. t IWil. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 125 

town by the savages, but the incidents connected with his death have been 
lost. The next day, (May 3d,) the house of Thomas Kimball, of Brad- 
ford, was attacked, and he was killed ; and his wife and five children, — 
Joanna, Thomas, Joseph, Priscilla, and John, — taken captive'--'. Phillip 
Eastman,! of Haverhill, was captured at the sametime.| 

This outrage was committed by three well known " converted Indians," 
named Symon,'^ Andjxw, and Peter. \\ There is a tradition, that they set 
out with the intention of killing some one in Eowley, whom they supposed 
had injured them, but finding the night too far spent, they did not dare 
proceed further, and so avenged themeelves on Mr. Kimball. It is quite 
probable that Symon intended to wreak his vengeance on some one who 
was concerned in securing his punishment for the theft before mentioned. 
He was a cruel and blood-thirsty villain, as the following facts will abun- 
dantly show. 

Soon after her return from captivity, Mrs. Kimball addressed the fol- 
lowing petition to the Governor and Council : 
" To the Hon. Governor and Gouncell. 

The humble petition of Mary Kimball sheweth that Simon, the Indian 
who killed my husband, Thomas Kimball, hath threatened to kill me and 
my children if ever I goe to my own house, so that I dare not goe to looke 
after what little I have there left, for fear of my life being taken away by 
him ; and therefore, doe humbly entreate the Hon. Governor and Councell 
that some course may be taken, as God shall direct, and your wisdoms 
shall think best, to secure him ; for I am in continual fear of my life by 
him ; and if any course may be taken for the recovery of what is yet left 
in their hands of my goods that they have not destroyed, (as there was 
two kitteils and two or three baggs of linnen when I came from them) 
that I might have it restored, leaving myself and my concernes under God, 
to your wisdoms. Piemaine your humble suppliant. Mary Kimball." 

«= The house in which Mr. Kimball lived, stood on the road leading to Boxford. The cellar was plainly 
to be seen a few years ago. Through, as it is said, the influence of Wannalancet, the chief of the Pen- 
nacooks, who was ever the friend of the English, Mrs. Kimball and her children were afterward set at 
liberty, " though she and her sucking child were twice condemned by the Indians, and the fii-es ready 
made to burn them." (1) 

t Phillip Eastman married Widow Mary Morse, August 22, 1678. Children, Hannah, born November 
r>. 1679 ; Ebenezcr, born February 17, 1681 ; Phillip, born August 18, 1684 ; Abigail, born May 28, 1689. 

I Eev. Mr. Cobbett. 

§ This Symon, or Simon, was the Indian whose horso-stealing exploit we mentioned in the preceding 
chapter. 

II John Littlehale. of this town, was killed by the Indians September 18, 167."). The particular.? of his 
death are now lost. 



(1) Rev. T. Cobbett's Ms., (Ipswich). 



126 HISTORY OF IIAVERniLL. 

Symon, and his two associates, soon after concluded to make peace with 
the English, who, instead of improving the opportunity to secure their 
friendship, seized Symon and Andrew, and confined them in the jail at 
Dover, They soon, however, found means to escape, joined their friends, 
and entered upon the work of vengeance in earnest. 

About the first depredation which followed their flight from Dover, was 
committed at G-reenland, where they killed one John Kenniston, and burned 
his house. Symon was with the celebrated Mogg, in his assault upon 
Scarborough, October 12th, 1676 ; was the leader of the party which made 
prisoners of Anthony Brackett, and his family, at Back Cove (near Port- 
land), August 9 th, of the same year; and was the alledged leader of the 
party which killed several persons in Amesbury, July 7, 1677. A woman 
named Quimby, who was wounded at the time, recognized him, and begged 
him to spare her life. He replied, " why, goodwife Quimby, do you think 
that I will kill you ? " She said she was afraid he would, because he 
killed all the English. Symon then said, " I will give quarter to never 
an English dog of you all," and immediately gave her a blow on the head, 
which not happening to hurt her much, she threw a stone at him, 
upon which he turned upon her, and " struck her two more blows," at 
which she fell, and he left her for dead. Before he gave her the last blows, 
she called to the garrison for help. He told her she need not do that, for, 
said he, " I will have that too, by and by." Symon was well known to 
many of the inhabitants, and especially to Mrs. Quimby, as he had for- 
merly lived with her father, William Osgood.'' 

In April, of the same year, Symon and his companions burnt the house 
of Edward Weymouth, at Sturgeon Creek, and plundered the house of one 
Crawley, but did not kill him, because he had shown kindness to Symon's 
grandmothei'.f Iluhhard, (History New England) relates the incident as 
follows : — " Symon and Andrew, the two brethren in iniquity, with a few 
more, adventured to come over Piscataquo Eiver, on Portsmouth side, when 
they burnt one house within four or five miles of the town, and took a 
maid and a young woman captive ; one of them having a young child in 
her arms, with which not willing to be troubled, they gave leave to her 
that held it, to leave it with an old woman, whom the Indian Symon 
spared because he said she had been kind to his grandmother." The cap- 
tives subsequently escaped, and revealed the names of their captors, who, 
for the reasons before given, had not been " so narrowly looked to as they 
used to do others." 

* Ma. Docnments. t Belknap. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 127 

The war soon became general. The first considerahle attack made by 
the Indians, was upon the people of Swanzey, June 24th, as they were 
returning from public worship ;=•■= eight or nine persons were killed. Brook- 
field was next attacked, and every house burnt but one. During the 
month of September, Hadley, Deerfield, and Isorthfield, were attacked; 
many persons were killed, and many buildings consumed. Encouraged 
by this success, they soon after burnt thirty-two houses at Springfield, and 
the inhabitants narrowly escaped a general massacre. They also laid the 
town of Mendon in ashes ; and, on the 10th of the following February, 
plundered the town of Lancaster, burnt several houses, and killed and 
captured forty-two persons. Soon after, they did great mischief in Marl- 
borough, Sudbury and Chelmsford ; and, on the 21st of February, two or 
three hundred Indians surprised Medfield, burnt half the town, and killed 
twenty of the inhabitants. Four days after, they burnt seven or eight 
houses in Weymouth. Early in March, they burnt the whole settlement of 
Groton ; and in the same month, they burnt five houses, and killed five 
persons in Northampton, surprised part of Plymouth, and murdered two 
families, laid the town of Warwick in ashes, and burnt forty houses in 
Kehoboth, and thirty in Providence. 

On the other hand, large numbers of Indians were destroyed by the 
colonists. In 1G75, when Phillip and his army retreated into the Narra- 
ganset country, the English pursued, attacked and destroyed their fort, 
and killed seven hundred of their warriors. Besides these, there were 
three hundred who died of their wounds, and a large number of old men, 
women, and children, who had repaired to the fort for refuge. 

In 1676, the afi"airs of the colonists wore a less gloomy aspect. In May 
and June, the Indians appeared in various parts of the country, but their 
energy had abated. About the same time, a war broke out between Phil- 
lip and the Mohawks, (whom the former had vainly endeavored to enlist 
against the English) which deranged all his measures. On the 12th of 
August, 1676, the finishing blow was given to the Indian power, by the 
death of King Phillip. The subsequent winter, the severity of the season, 
and the scarcity of their provisions, reduced them to the necessity of 
sueing for peace. By the mediation of Major Waldron, of Dover, to whom 
they applied, a peace was concluded with the whole body of eastern 
Indians, which continued till the next August. In this war, the English 
lost six hundred men, twelve or thirteen towns were destroyed, and six 
hundred dwelling houses consumed. 

o The day had been set apart by the Plymouth colonists as a day of fasting and prayer, on account of 
the itrtpending danger. The 29th of the same month was also so observed in the Massachusetts 
Bay colony. 



128 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

From the Journal of Captain John Hull, Treasurer of the Colony, under 
date of August 24, 1676, we copy the following list of soldiers from this 
town, and the sum paid to each. 

" Haverell Towne Cr By Sundry Accpts. Viz 24.16.08 

Samuel Huchins pd as p Assignment No 4315 00.15.06 

Nathaniel Haseltine ditto No 01.00.06 

Samuel Aires dit , 00.08.06 - 

John Keisar dit 00.08.06 

John Clements dit 00.08.06 

Amos Siuglctcns dit 00.05.00 

Nathaniel Lad dit 00.05.00 

Daniel Lad 00.05.00 

-George Brown dit 00.13.00 

John Johnson dit 00.02.06 

Phillip Esman dit 00.15.04 

Benjamin Siuglcterry dit 00.15.04 

Thomas Durston dit 00.17.10 

Thomas Eastman dit 01.04.00 

Thomas Hartshorn dit 00.12.00 

Richard Allin dit 01.17.06 

Eobert Swan dit 01.17.06 

Henry Kemball dit 01.06.10 

Benjamin Grealy dit 01.00.06 

Jonathan Henrick dit 00.15.04 

John Corly dit 00.15.04 

John Roby dit 00.08.06 

Samuel Ladd dit 03.17.00 

Thomas Kinsbury dit 01.12.04 

Robert Swan dit 01.04.00 

John Haseltine dit 01.04.00 

Samuel AVatts dit 00.13.06 

Joseph Bond dit .00.13.06 

The following extract from the colonial records, presents a vivid picture 
of the anxiety and distress among the people of Massachusetts, on ac- 
count of the bold and daring determination of Phillip and his allies to 
extirpate the English. The proposition to erect a fortification of such 
magnitude, shows the desperation to which they were reduced, and the 
dangers to which they were exposed : — - 

" Att a court held in Boston March 23d 1676. Whereas several con- 
siderable persons have made application to us and proposed it as a necessary 
expedient for the public welfare and particularly for the security of the 
whole county of Essex and part of j\Iiddlesex from inroads of the common 
enemy, that a line or fence of stockades or stones (as the matter best 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 129 

suiteth) be made about eigtt feet high extending from Charles Eiver where 
it is navigable unto Concord river from George Farley's house, in Bil- 
lerica, which fence this council is informed is not in length above twelve 
miles, a good part whereof is alreadj^ done by large ponds that will con- 
veniently fall into the line and so forth, and so forth, by which means the 
whole tract will be environed for the security and safety (under God) of 
the people, their houses, goods and cattel from the rage and fury of the 
enemy." "■' * ^-^ ^'^ 

The court thereupon ordered one able and fit man from each of the in- 
cluded towns, to meet at Cambridge on March 3 1st, to survey the ground, 
estimate the expense, &c., and report in writing how it might be prosecuted 
and effected, and what each town should pay, &c. Nearly all the towns 
made a report. 

The peace proved to be of short duration. On the 1 2th of the following 
July, Eichard Saltonstall of this town, and others of Bradford, and Ando- 
ver, petitioned the General Court for "more provision for protection on 
account of present appearance and warning of danger." In reply, the 
Court ordered one-fifth of the men to be kept continually on scout, taking 
turns, so that all should bear their part ! 

Hostilities commenced soon after, and were continued the remainder of 
that year, and also during the following year ; in which period the Indians 
ravaged the country, and greatly reduced the eastern settlements. 

In the spring of 1678, commissioners were appointed to settle a formal 
treaty of peace with the Indian chiefs, — which was done at Casco. Thus 
an end was finally put to a tedious and distressing war. 

Fortunately for our town, it was not attacked during this war, though 
the inhabitants lived in continual expectation of one, and the most active 
and vigorous measures were adopted for defence. Houses were garri- 
soned, and armed scouts were kept on the watch for the enemy night and 
day, during the whole time.'' At this distant day, we can have but a 
faint idea of the anxieties and hardships, the flickering hopes and gloomy 
fears, of those long and dreary three years of Indian warfare. 

After the ratification of peace, commerce began again to flourish, and 
the population of the country rapidly increased. New towns were settled, 
and the colonists, no longer in daily and hourly fear of being startled by 
the war-whoop of the merciless savage, once more rested in present 
security. 

• As late as 1684, thirty-five troopers were kept constantly on the scont, on the borders of Haverhill, 
Amesbury, and Salisbury; and a foot company was kept in readiness for service, in each of those towns. 

17 



130 HISTORY OP HAYERHILL. 



CHAPTER XI. 



1675 TO 1688. 



During the period included in the preceding chapter, the inhabitants of 
this town were so constantly engaged in providing and sustaining means 
of defence, that we find but little to record except matters in some way 
relating to the Indian troubles. 

In 1675, the time of holding the annual town meetings was changed 
from the first Tuesday in March, to the last Tuesday in February. 

In October, the General Court assessed a tax of £1,553, 5s, 4d, on the 
towns in the Colony, to defray the expenses of the war with the Indians. 
The proportion of Haverhill was fixed at £18. Even this sum was not 
easily raised, and a town meeting was called, November 18th, "to allow 
the inhabitants to make staves enough to pay the 8 rates required by the 
country, so as to save bread coin which men cannot well live without." 

At the same meeting, Michael Emerson was chosen " to view and seal 
all leather " in the town. This is the first mention of such an officer, and 
Emerson was doubtless the first one so appointed. In 1677, Emerson 
"complained," and Andrew Greeley was "joined with him." We are 
not informed of what the former complained, but from the fact that an 
additional viewer and sealer was chosen, as a remedy for his complaint, 
we are led to suppose that the labors of the office were either too great or 
too troublesome for a single officer. As it was something new for the tan- 
ners in town to have some one specially authorized, and required, to view 
and seal their leather, it is quite probable that Emerson found his business 
anything but pleasant, and hence the popular ancient and modern remedy 
adopted, — division of responsibility. 

At the meeting of February 27, 1676, William Thompson asked to be 
" accepted a Towns-man, to dwell here and follow his trade of shoe-mak- 
ing," but, for some unexplained reason, the town refused. The Eecorder 
says, "the town by a clear and full vote do hereby reject his motion, not 
granting any such liberty or acceptance of him." 

At the next annual meeting, another shoemaker made a similar applica- 
tion, which met with even a worse fate than that of Thompson, as will be 
seen by the following, from the Eecords of the town : — 

" Fetter Patie making a motion to the town to grant him a piece of land 
to settle upon, it not being till then known to the town that he was a mar - 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 131 

riedman&a stranger, having hitherto accounted of him as a journey-man 
shoe-maker, his motion according to law was rejected. And the Moderator 
declared to him before the public assembly that the town doth not own 
him, or allow of him for an inhabitant of Haverhill, & that it was the 
duty of the Grand-jury men to look after him." 

Pattee's (or Pettee's) proposal to become an inhabitant of the town, 
seems to have been lightly esteemed. But he was not so easily shaken off ; 
and, in spite of his cool reception, he continued to reside here until his 
death. In 1680, he was " presented" to the Court, " for being absent 
from his wife several years, and in the following year, he was presented 
for having another wife in Virginia.'-' In 1694, he was chosen constable 
by a " pleantiful, clear, and legal paper vote." As late as 1710, he was 
the regular ferryman at " Pattee's ferry." 

Notwithstanding the unfavorable reception of Thompson and Pattee's 
applications for permission to establish themselves in town as shoemakers, 
others were soon found courageous enough to make a similar application. 
At the annual meeting in 1679, — " upon the request of Benjamin Webs- 
ter and Samuel Parker, two young men and shooemakers, that the towne 
would give them libertie to live in this towne to follow the trade, having 
hired a house to that end ; the towne by their vote doe grant their motion, 
and accept of them so as to live in towne and follow the trade of shooe- 
making." 

Mirick expresses the opinion, that Webster and Parker were the first 
who had served a regular apprenticeship at the trade, and established 
themselves in this town, but a reference to the record in the case of Pattee 
and the fact that he then, and for years afterward, lived in town, and was 
a "journey-man shoemaker," is sufficient to establish his claim to the 
honor over the first-named. We think it nowise improbable, that Thomp- 
son, although he was refused permission to become a " towns-man," yet 
resided here, and worked at his trade of shoemaking. The vote of the 
town would not prevent this, as we have seen that it did not in the case of 
Pattee. 

In 1677, Daniel Ela was licensed to keep an ordinary for one year; 
but the small pox breaking out in his family, he was unable to sell his 
liquors, and he petitioned the Court, at the fall term, to extend his license. 

° We find in the Town Records, under date of November 8, 1682, the marriage of Peitr Pafre to Sarah 
Gile, and follomng' are the names of eight children : Moses, Benjamin, Jeremiah, Samuel, Hannah, 
Mercy, Jemima, and Benjamin, born between July 28, 1683, and May 15, 1696. We presume that this 
was the same person alluded to above. 



132 HISTOKY OF HAVEKHILl. 

The Court gave him liberty to sell " wine, liquore, Beere, Cyder, and pro- 
visions to horse and man, or travilers in Haverhill."" 

It is evident, from an examination of the Eecords, that the town con- 
tinued to be in want of more extensive mill accommodations — both for 
corn and lumber. We have already noticed the conditions upon which 
various parties had been allowed to build, and the important privileges 
granted to them upon fulfilment of such conditions. But it seems that the 
mill owners did not always come up to their part of -the contract, and thia 
led to bitter and frequent complaints and disappointments on the part of 
the inhabitants. Their town was growing steadily, and, for the times, 
rapidly, and it was important that its growth should not be retarded, 
and the good temper of the inhabitants ruffled, by reason of insufficient 
mill accommodations. 

In 1675, the town voted to prosecute the owners of the sawmill, for 
non-fulfilment of their agreement. We do not find that this course amended 
matters much, and they doubtless began to consider the propriety of favor- 
ing the establishment of mills in different parts of the town. They had 
already taken a step in this direction, by granting permission for a second 
corn-mill in town, a few years previously, and in 1678, the town unani- 
mously "voted that Bichard Bartlett, of Almsbury be granted the privi- 
lege to set a sawmill in Haverhill, on the north meadow river." Bartlett 
lived near the Haverhill line, and we presume that his mill was built on 
or near the site of what are now known as Peaslees iMUls. The conditions 
of the privilege were, that Bartlett should pay the regular rates (that is, 
taxes,) ; that he should " deliver at our meeting house 1000 merchantable 
per year; " should sell to the Haverhill people at three shillings per hun- 
dred ; and should secure the town from any damages recovered by the 
present saw-mill owners in consequence of the new mill, and from all 
damage to meadows. 

Five years afterward, the town voted to allow Joseph Kingsbery, Sam- 
uel Hutchins, Robert Swan, jun,, and Josiah Gage, to build a saw-mill on 
Merrie's Creek, below the bridge. In this case, the town expressly re- 
served to itself the right to allow others the same privilege on the same 
stream, which was certainly a long step toward the final abolishment of all 
monopoly in mill privileges. 

At the same meeting (1683) the subject of com mill accommodations 
came up again for consideration, as we learn from the following record : — 

o "From an old account book I learn that this year turnips & apples were a shilling a bushel; a day's 
mowinj two shillings and tivo pence; men's wages for a year ten pounds; women's wages from four to 
fire pounds ; board four shillings per week, and lalwr two shillings per day." — Coffin, 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 133 

" The town being sensible of their great suffering for want of another 
mill to grind their corn ; this mill of Andrew Grelee's not being able to 
supply them or to grind their corn as it ought to be done, did send to An- 
drew Grelee to treat with him, & proposed to him the building of another ; 
Who then did refuse to accept of the proposition, & declared before the 
town that he knew there was a necessity for the town to have another 
cornmill, & that he was not at all against their having of one set up, pro- 
vided it be set upon any other brook or stream, & not upon that brook 
which his mill stands upon." 

Upon this, Stephen Daltpn "propounded for liberty to build a corn- 
mill," which request was granted. 

That it is no modem notion, to find fault with, and be suspicious of the 
integrity of town officers, is manifest from the town's voting, as long ago 
as 1679, to choose a committee to look after the accounts, &c., of the 
Selectmen for the preceding year. Their confidence had somehow become 
so much weakened, that they even voted that a similar committee should 
be chosen every year in future. 

In the early part of 1680, Haverhill was set back into Essex county. 
The following is the order of the General Court, making the change : — 

" At a General Court held in Boston the 4th day of Feb 1679-80. 

This Court being sensible of the great inconvenience & charge that it 
will be to Salisbury, Haverhill, & Almsbury, to continue their County 
Court, now some of the Towns of Norfolk are taken off, & considering that 
those towns did formerly belong to Essex, & attended at Essex Court, Do 
order that those Towns that are left be again joined to Essex, & attend 
public business at Essex Courts, there to implead & be impleaded as occa- 
sion shall be : Their records of lands being still to be kept in some one 
of their own Towns on the North of Merrimack." And all persons accord- 
ing to course are to attend in Essex County. 

By the Court. Edw: Eawson Secrety." 

From the records of the General Court, we learn that twenty-two towns, 
and among them Haverhill, had not yet paid the amount they subscribed 
for Harvard College. The Court ordered the selectmen of the delinquent 
towns to enquire into the matter, and report, under a penalty of twenty 
pounds. As we hear nothing further from it, we presume the subscription 
was soon after paid, 

In the spring of this year, (March 24, 1680,) Mrs. Ward, the wife of 
the minister, died. From the testimony her husband bears to her charac- 

• The records referred to in the above order, were subsequently deposit^ed in the archives of the County, 
at Salem, where they still remain. 



134 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

ter, we learn that she was a woman of most exemplary life, and shining 
virtues, — a fit companion for the religious teacher of an early New England 
settlement. Her death was a severe blow to her surviving husband. She 
had been his constant, loving, and beloved companion, by night and by 
day, for nearly forty years. For more than a third of a century — the 
life-time of a generation — she had shared his jo^^s and his sorrows, his 
hopes and his fears ; had comforted and cheered him when sad, gently 
chided him when erring, and had yielded him the full measure of that 
choicest and most precious of all the treasures of this life, — a woman's 
love and devotion. And now, seared and decrepit with age, with the 
blossoms of almost fore-score winters upon his head, the veteran minister 
found himself approaching the land of shadows alone. No wonder is it 
that the old man's heart sunk within him ; that his step grew unsteady, 
his voice tremulous, and his eye dim ; when the full sense of his loss and 
his loneliness revealed itself to him. A few months afterward, we find 
the following record : — 

" At a Town meeting Dec 22. 1680, held after Lecture,-' Nathl Salton- 
stall, Lieut Browne, Tho Whittier, Wm White, & Danl Ela, were chosen 
a committee to "look out for to agree with, & obtain forthwith, & pro- 
cure upon the best terms they can get, some meet & able person to be a 
present help & assistant to Mr Ward, our minister, now in his old age, in 
the work of the ministy in preaching." 

The record tells us that this was done " by the advice of our present 
minister." The meeting was held " after the Lecture." Suggestive 
theme ! Who shall paint the picture presented to the eye at that " lec- 
ture ; " the humble, unpainted, unsteepled, uncushioned, organless, pic- 
tureless little church ; the assembled congregation ; and the white-haired 
minister ? All the members of his little flock were there ; — children, youth, 
middle-aged and old. For many, many years, he had watched over, instruct- 
ed, prayed for, and exhorted them ; had gone in and out among them at all 
times and seasons ; his bencA' olent smile, and sympathising voice, had been 
their comfort and solace in sickness and sorrow ; and his presence and 
counsel had smoothed the pathway of the departed to the tomb, and miti- 
gated the pangs of afflictive bereavement to the living. But his work was 
now almost completed ; his sands of life were fast running out ; his strong- 
est earthly prop had been taken away ; he was no longer able to labor 



o Fdi siiys, that "Lecture Day" was Thursday, when the services commenced at 11 A. M. They were 
superceded about 1753, by monthly lectures. Evening lectures were first held about 1740. From an early 
date, Friday seems to have been the Lecture Day in this town. Dr. Hezekiah Smith is said to have 
been the first one who held evening meetings in the town. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 135 

with them and for them as in times past ; and, with trembling voice and 
tearful eye, he asks them to seek out another minister, while yet his little 
strength remained. 

The committee chosen, were also instructed to " look out a place for a 
convenient situation for a minister," and "to agree with anyone upon 
purchase or exchange of land, or if they meet not with a bargain to their 
mind, then to set out such of the town's common land as they shall judge 
most convenient for a place for the ministry." 

At a meeting June 24, 1681, the committee reported that not finding 
any suitable place upon purchase or exchange, John Haseltine senior had 
" given two acres to the town for the perpetual use of the ministry," and 
they had laid out a piece adjoining it for the same purpose. Their doings 
were approved, and the land granted for that purpose "forever." This 
land was situated north of the present Winter Street, and between Little 
River and the Common. 

The committee, at the same time, reported that they had not been able 
to get a new minister, and thereupon a new committee was chosen in their 
place, with instructions to do so, " they taking the advice of Mr. Ward, 
our present aged minister." Josiah Gage was agreed with, to build a 
house for the new minister. 

At the same meeting, a gallery was ordered to be immediately erected ' 
in the east end of the meeting-house, for " the accommodation of the ' 
women." 

We have already noticed that, in 1673, the annual salary of the school- 
master was discontinued. The records for several years succeeding that 
date are silent in regard to a school in town, and the first and only infor- 
mation we have been able to find relating to the subject at this period, is 
the following, in the records of the Ipswich Court, for March, 1681 :. — 

" The Court having called the presentment of Hauerill for not having a 
school-master, according to Law, in their Toune, & finding that there is 
some prouision made for the present, for teaching of children, they are re- 
leased upon that presentment, but the court judging that what is now 
done and provided by them doth not answer the law, nor is convienient to 
be rested in, doe order that the town before the next court at Ipswich pro- 
vide an able and meet schoolmaster that may constantly attend that service, 
as is usual in such cases, and that the scoole be kept neare the centre of 
the Toune." 

For some unexplained reason, Josiah G-age did not build a house for the 
new minister, according to agreement, and at the annual meeting the next 

' It will be recollected that John Hut<:hin3 had previously built n gallery ftt the west end. 



136 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

year (1682) a committee was chosen to find some one else to build it. A few 
weeks after, (April 4) a town meeting was called, and a committee ctosen 
" to treat with Samuel Dal ton" or John Stockbridge for either of their 
houses which they have of late erected in town," for the use of the new 
minister. 

At the June meeting of the previous year, the question of building a 
new meeting-house was discussed. The old one was too small to accom- 
modate all the inhabitants, and was, moreover, much decayed. But the 
proposition was finally voted down, " by the additional and wilful votes of 
many prohibited by law from voting." The proposition adopted at that 
time, to build a gallery for the women, was probably a sort of compromise 
between the two parties. At the March meeting following, the matter 
was again agitated, but no action was taken. 

In June, another meeting was called, " at the request of Mr. Ward," 
to see about a new minister. At this meeting, ten pounds were raised to 
get one. 

In July, the town met to see about the " parsonage farm," and it was 
finally leased to Daniel Bradley, for twenty-one years. Mr. Ward's in- 
creasing age and feebleness were doubtless the reasons for this action, 
though none are given. 

September 18th, another meeting was called to see about a new minister. 
The necessity was now becoming urgent, and the matter could not be de- 
layed longer. After much discussion, the town voted " to proffer Mr. 
Jeremiah Gushing, or some other meet person that may be agreed upon, 
£100, in corn or provisions, besides the £60 proffered for annual salary 
during Mr. Ward's life." They determined that the above mentioned 
sums should be raised in the same way as a town rate, and should be paid 
" part money, part wheat, part rye, & part Indian Corn, all good, dry, 
sweet clean, & merchantable." The committee previously chosen were 
continued, "to carry on designs with Mr. Gushing, whom the town hath 
had some experience of."f 

Three weeks later, another meeting was held, at which it was voted to 
purchase of Samuel Simons, "his house & nine acres of land for the use 

* Dal ton was from Hampton. 

t From the last clause of this vote, it appears that Mr. Cnshinar had preached in town at some time 
previous, — perhaps on "exchange" with Mr. Ward. Mr. Cushin? was a son of Daniel Gushing, Esq., 
was horn at Hingham. Mass., July 3, 1654, and graduated at Harvard University, in 1070. He received 
an invitation to settle in the ministry at Haverhill, in 1682, which he declined accepting. He was after- 
ward invited to become the pastor of the church in Scituate, and was ordained over it May 27, 1691. He 
died March 22, 1705, in the fifty-first year of his age, and the fourteenth of his ministry.— Vide Histories 
Hinghnm, and ScituaU. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 137 

of the ministry." The town gave Simons for his house and land, "forty 
acres near Fishing river, and £30 in vpheat, rye, and corn." They also 
voted Mr. Gushing " four cow common rights," in addition to what they 
had previously oflFered him, and also "twenty cords of wood at his 
house annually."-'' 

This year, for the first time, the Moderator was chosen by "a paper 
vote," and it was voted that in future the Selectmen should be chosen in 
the same manner, " one at a time." This was the commencement of vot- 
ing by written ballot in the choice of officers by the town.f - 

At the annual meeting in 1683, Francis Wainwright obtained leave for 
his son Simon to settle in town, and use timber to build him a house and 
a " ware house." This is the first mention we can find of a merchant, or 
trader, in town. Francis Wainwright was himself a merchant, from Ips- 
wich, and had three sons, — John, Simon, and Francis. Simon immediately 
removed here. 

At this meeting, the subject of Mr. Cushing's engagement was again 
discussed, and it was decided to send a messenger to get his answer or to 
have him " please to come and give us a visit, that we may receive answer 
from himself." It was voted to raise one-half of the one hundred pounds 
offered him, immediately ; and also to buy " the house where Henry Pal- 
mer lived & died, for the use of the ministry forever." The price paid 
was twenty acres of la^nd " towards Great Pond."| 

This was the third time the town purchased a place to be devoted to 
that use, " forever," and we may doubtless forever speculate as to the rea- 
sons why the previous bargains were not carried into effect, as the records 
give us no clue to a solution of the problem. 

In June, another meeting was called to consider about Mr. Cushing's 
settlement, and to see about a new meeting house. The latter subject, 
however, seems to have engrossed all the time of the meeting. We should 
judge from the records that there was no difference of opinion in regard 
to the need, or the expediency of building a new house, as the discussions 
appear to have been confined entirely to its location. Upon this question, 
there was a wide difference of opinion, and when the vote was taken upon the 
question of placing the new meeting house upon the old site, the following 
voted yea, viz : 

Serg. John Johnson, Mr. John Ward, minister, Nath'l Saltonstall, Lieut 
George Browne, Wm. White, Thomas Whittier, John Whittier, EobertEmer- 

" Twenty cords of wood per annum, waa, at that day, considered a moderate allowance for an ordinary 
family. 

t In the early days of the Colony, white and black beans were used in voting. 

t This is the first mention we find of that body of water, by that, or any other particular name. 

18 



138 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

son, Robert Clement, Jotham Hendrick, James Davis, sen., Daniel Ela, John 
Page sen., and Samuel Sbeplierd. (Total 15.) The following named per- 
sons " were against the settling of the meeting house where the meeting 
house now stands (forever) , but that this meeting house that now is may 
stand as long as is convenient: — Thomas Davis, Daniel Lad sen., Saml 
Gild, Peter Ayer, Oncsipho Mash sen, John Haseltine sen, Michii Em- 
erson, Geo Corlis, Kob. Ford, Saml Simons, Tim Ayers, John Eobie, Saml 
Hutchins, John Corlis, Saml Ayer, Thos Duston John Hartshorne, Tho 
Ayer, Joseph Kingsberry, John Gild, Saml Kingsberry, Joseph Hutchins, 
Stephen Webster, Nathl Haseltine, Tho Hartshorne, Eobt Swan sen, Willm 
Neff, Josiah Gage,-Ezek'l Lad, Eobt Swan Jun, Philip Eastman, Henry 
Kemball, Joseph Johnson, Mat Harriman." (Total 34). 

In referring to the action of the town about the settlement of Mr. Gush- 
ing, the former historian of Haverhill concludes, that there was not only 
considerable discussion, but that it was " probably rather violent," and 
adds, " the excitement appears to have been great." "VVe have carefully 
examined the record, and are unable to find any evidence of violent dis- 
cussions, or gi'eat excitement, and we feel confident that such was not the 
case. The matters were, indeed, most important ones, and we have no 
doubt that the discussions were both long and earnest ; but the Eecorder 
gives us no hints of either violence or great excitement. 

Among the minor matters of this period, we find several items which 
may be of interest to our readers.'' 

In 1683, a committee was chosen to rebuild the " West Bridge, at Saw- 
mill Eiver, it being much dammified by the great flood of waters this 
spring." (This bridge stood near the present AVinter street bridge). 

Daniel Ela was prosecuted by his wife, for ill treatment, and the court 
ordered him to pay her 40s. This, however, did not prevent a continu- 
ance of his cruelty, as he was the next year complained of by AVilliam 
White, for turning his wife out of doors in a snow-storm, and shamefully 
abusing her. The following deposition of one of his neighbors, will ex- 
hibit his character: "Goodman Ela said that Goodman White was an old 
knave, and that he would make it cost him souse for coming to him about 

• The following, from Coffin's History of Nevibury, will probably apply equally as well to Haverhill, 
and is therefore worth inserting in this place : — " Turnips at that time, & for a half century af ler, sup- 
plied the place of potatoes. In 1662, the price of a cord of oalc wood, &. a bushel of turnips, was the 
same, namely, one shilling and sixpence. In 1702, oak wood was three shillings, & walnut five shillings 
a cord, and turnips from one shilling and sixpence to two shillings a bushell.(l) In 1676, turnips one 
shilling per bushell, hemp and butter sixpence per pound. In 1687, cotton wool was one shilling and six- 
pence per pound. (2) 



(1) John Knight's Journal. (2) Richard Bartlett's Joiirna 



HISTOEY OF HAVERHILL. 139 

his wife, and meddling about that which was none of his business. He 
said that she was his servant and his slave ; and that she was no woman, 
but a devil in woman's apparel ; and that she should never come into his 
house again ; and that he would have her severely whipped, but that it 
would be a disgrace to him."'' 

John Page was licensed to keep an ordinary in town ; and William 
White to sell cider for three years. At the next court, Page was fined 
forty shillings for " selling drink to Indians."! 

At the town meeting, in 1683, a complaint was made against John Kee- 
zar, for keeping his tan-vats open, by which means, some cattle and swine 
belonging to his neighbors, had been destroyed. " The Moderator, in ye 
name of ye towne, did publiquely give sd Keezar a caution — warning 
and admonishing him upon his perill to secure his tan-yard and tan fatts 
that no damage be done by him, to other mens or his own creatures ; and 
in speciall that mischief may not come unto children, which may occasion 
his own life to come upon triall." 

On the 27th of October, another meeting was called to see about settling 
a minister. The first vote passed, was to dismiss the committee previously 
chosen for the purpose of finding some suitable person, and the next, was to 
choose a new committee, " to procure a person to join with Mr. Ward in 
the work of the ministry at Haverhill." This third committee consisted of 
Corporal! Peter Ayer, Corporal Josiah Gage, and Eobert Swan, senior. 

In the records of this meeting, we find the following, touching the nego- 
tiations with Mr. Gushing : — 

" The town by their former Committee having had a treaty with Mr. 
Gushing, in order to his settlement, and at last being denied, Lieut Browne, 
that the town may be j astified if they treat with any other person in order 
to a settlement in the ministry, gave in Mr. Cushing's two letters as his 
answer and refusal of our motion, that they might be entered and put 
upon file, with other papers belonging to the town's concernments which 
are on file." 

This is the last reference we find to Mr. Gushing in the records. The 
Recorder does not state what his reasons were for declining to come, and 
as the letters above mentioned are now lost, we are left entirely in the 
dark concerning them. We feel confident, however, that his refusal was 
not given on account of any division or excitement among the people of 
the town, though Mirick so intimates in his History of Haverhill. 

'^ Court Records. f Ibid. 

X If any of our readers feel disposed to smile at the prominence given to military titles, by onr ances- 
tors, let them please remember, that, in these " latter day^," nearly every man is addressed by some title. 
Those who cannot claim a higher one, are usually addressed as •' Esq." 



140 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

At the next annual meeting (1684) Daniel Ela and William Starlin 
made " a proffer to the town, to sell their livings, house & laud, for a situ- 
ation for a minister or the ministry," and a committee was chosen to treat 
with them "in the time of intermission, before the afternoon," and re- 
port. Upon the committee's report, the town declined the proffer of Ela, 
as "too difficult to comply with & perform," and decided to treat further 
with Starlin. For the latter purpose, the committee was ordered to con- 
fer with him again, and report at an adjourned meeting, the next day. 
The next day, the town voted to give Starlin one hundred pounds for his 
house and land, provided he would give them a " sufficient legal convey- 
ance " of the same. His pay was as follows : — " Ten acres of land at 
the Fishing river, near to Eobert Emerson's." which was to be laid out 
convenient " for the setting up of a corn mill there," at three pounds per 
acre ; and the remaining seventy pounds to be paid in merchantable com, 
in two several payments, for which a rate was then ordered to be laid. 

The town expressly reserved the right to allow any other person or per- 
sons to put up mills on the same stream, and also stipulated that in setting 
down his dam he should not hinder the passage of the fish up the river to 
the pond, " at the season of the year when they come to pass up." 

From the record of the same meeting we copy the following : 

" A complaint being made to the town for want of room in the meeting 
house, for the women, convenient when they come to hear the word of God 
preached, and that care be speedily taken about the same : The town (by 
their act upon June 24, 1681, having taken care for such a galery, and 
appointed persons to take care thereof, and get it to be made at the towns 
cost) do refer this matter to the said committee, empowering them to get 
the same built, desiring them forthwith to proceed upon the work to have 
it finished, that no excuse of that kind be made by any persons that do, or 
shall absent themselves from the public worship of God." 

From the above, we are led to presume, that the committee had neglected 
to build the gallery on account of the probability of a new meeting-house 
being soon erected. As they were now ordered to proceed at once in the 
work, it appears as though the proposition for a new one was given up for 
the present. 

In the summer of this year, (July 80, 1684,) a town meeting was called 
to see about the seating of the inhabitants in the meeting house, " altera- 
tions and divers deaths " having made some new arrangements necessary, 
and the selectmen were made a committee " for the new seating or placing 
of persons in the seats in the meeting house." It was voted, that if any 
of the inhabitants refused to occupy the seats assigned them by the se- 
let'tiuen, they should " forfeit a fine of twelve pence in com " for each 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 141 

day's neglect or refusal : and, " to prevent any olijection of others," an- 
other committee was chosen to seat the selectmen ! 

Mirick, in noticing the above, says, — " It is evident, from the language 
of the Eecorder that some epidemic prevailed about this time, though we 
have no other account of it." We are surprised that, with the record be- 
fore him, he should have drawn such an inference. It had now been 
about thirty years since the seats were first assigned, and in that period 
great changes had naturally been made in families by " alterations and 
divers deaths," and we see no evidence or hint that favors the adoption of 
any other theory in explaining the above-mentioned action of the town. 

A change in the mode of voting for Selectmen was adopted at the annual 
meeting this year, the record of which is not without interest: — " It is 
ordered that at this present meeting, and so for the future till this act is 
orderly repealed, every one that is presented at the town meeting for, and 
hath power or liberty of voting in the choice of Selectmen for the follow- 
ing year shall bring in his votes for five several distinct persons in one 
paper at one time, cut between the names, so that they may hang together ; 
and when all the papers so brought in are sorted, those five men that have 
the greatest number of votes, as it is usual in the public elections on ISTomi- 
nations for the country shall be the men who are chosen to serve for the 
Selectmen for the year ensuing. "'•••= 

In 1683, Job Clement of Dover, son of the late Job Clement of this 
town, applied to the town to lay out some laud to him upon his father's 
house lot accommodation ; but, " upon discourse," several persons affirmed 
that the land had already been laid out, and as "Daniel Ela affirmed openly 
that Mr Job Clement in his life time did say with reference to his three 
acres of accommodations, that Theoph. Satchwell who had been at law with 
him, had cheated him of it all," the town refused his request. In 1684, 
Clement renewed his application, and the " matter being long discoursed," 
the town again refused to acknowledge his claim. 

After the Selectmen for 1685 were chosen, it was found that a major- 
ity were not freemen," as a law of the colony required, and " without 
reflection or disrespect, Daniel Bradley was left out, and Josiah Gage 
chosen in his room." 

The same year, a highway was laid out "from Almsbury meeting house 
by Country Bridge to Haverhill." It was a " beaten " way before, but had 
not been regularly laid out. A highway was also laid out " above Spicket as 
far as Haverhill lands go in that direction." One had been previously laid 
out in the latter direction, but being little used, it had become " uncertain." 

<* In 1687, this regulation was repealed, and " the former ancient practice of putting in for but one per- 
son at a time ordered to be attended to." 



142 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

John Keyzar, to whom land was granted in 1674, on condition that he 
came and " set up his trade of tanner " in town, (which land was " con- 
firmed to him" in 1682) made application this year for liberty to sell it; 
but the town informed him that " they did and do expect the conditions 
therein mentioned to be attended, or else the said John may leave the same 
to the Town, with the buildings and improvements by him made thereon, 
to the Town for public use." 

The Town Records of this year, for the first time, state that the meet- 
ings were called by the " writ of the selectmen, published and placed on 
file." They were published by aflSixing a copy of the warrant to the door 
of the meeting house. 

I'or ten years preceding this, we find no allusion in the Town Records to 
the subject of a school, and only one elsewhere, — that in the Ipswich 
Court Records of 1681. From this, and the record of the meeting men- 
tioned below, we infer that there was no regular school in town during 
those years. 

On the 9th of November, of this year, a meeting was called, "in order 
to a supply and the providing a fit person to keep school in this Town, and 
make it his only employ to instruct the children or young men, or any of 
the inhabitants of Haverhill in reading, and in writing, and in cyphering," 
and the selectmen were voted full power to provide such a person, and agree 
with him to keep school until the next annual meeting, provided they did 
not agree "to give him on the public account more than Four pounds in 
corn till that time." Under the same date, we find the following agree- 
ment, which is well worth preserving : — 

" We wliose names are underwritten have agreed with Mr James Chad- 
wick to keep the school, to endeavour to teach such as shall resort to him, 
as they shall desire to read, or write, or cypher, or all of them, until the 
next annual meeting in February next : For which service of his he shall 
be paid by the town in general three pounds in corn, besides what he shall 
have, or agree with the scholars for ; or their parents, or masters ; or for 
want of agreement the said Mr Chadwick in his demands not to exceed 
what usually is paid in other places for schooling, viz : To have by the 
week — For a Reader 00:04, & for a writer 00:06. Dated November 9th, 
1685, By us 

Robt Aycr ") 

Ste Dow i- Selectmen. 

Josi'h GrageJ 

and consented unto by the other 2. Jna Page Jun } Select 

Sim Wainwrioht \ men " 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 143 

At the next annual meeting, the selectmen were directed "to agree with 
Mr Chadwick, or any other person, to make it his employ to keep school 
in Haverhill for the year ensuing." 

In the spring of 1686, a road was laid out from Eowley to Haverhill. 
It was laid out eight rods wide. 

In answer to a petition from the Selectmen, the Court empowered them 
to '"bind out young ones into sarvice," — provided their indentures met 
the approval of " worshipful Major Saltoustall." 

At the annual meeting, Daniel Ela proffered to sell his housing and 
land by the meeting house " to the town for a parsonage, and take as part 
pay, the house and laud the town had previously purchased of Wm Star- 
lin ; but, after much discourse, the town refused to treat with him. At 
the same time, John Gild charged Lieut. Johnson, in open town meeting, 
with attemptiug tx) cheat him, by altering the bounds of land at Flaggy 
meadow, and taking in "near 40 or 50 acres." As the Lieutenant " con- 
fessed in part," the town chose a committee to look into the matter. The 
Lieutenant was not, however, the only one in town who wanted more land 
than belonged to him, as Serg't John Page and Mr. Simon Wainwright, 
"by virtue of an order from the Selectmen," the previous year, "to 
search after and find out them that had trespassed upon the Town's ways 
and common lands by their fencing of them in," gave in the following 
names : — Joseph Greelee, Joseph Peasely, Saml Pearson, Saml Shepherd, 
Daniel Ela, Edwd Brumidge, Sergt Johnson, Peter Patie, Lt, Browne or S 
Ford, Benj Singletery, John Gild, Eobt Swan, Stephen Davis, Dan: Hen- 
drick, Jno Davis, Edwd Clarke, Stephen Dow, Abra. Belknap, Thos Davis, 
John Whittier. 

But even this large array of names did not include the whole, for at the 
same meeting, the Eecorder informs us, " Piobt Swan sen presented a mo- 
tion to the Town for buying of their own lands which they had purchased 
of the Indians, and had grants for from the General Court : and was laid 
out in particular lots by the Town's allotment." Swan's motion was, 
that, — 

" Whereas there was a certain tract of land purchased of Pumpasano- 
way alais Old Will, an Indian, by John Endicot of Boston, Gentu, eldest 
son to Gov Endicot, The which land was sold by Jno Endicot to Walter 
Barefoot, Esq, as appears bj' firm deeds under hand and seal, from one to 
the other of the above said conveyors. This laud being part of it in the 
bounds of Haverhill near Spicket Eiver. It being now in my hands to 
dispose of. as I can make it appear, I think it expedient that a proposition 
be made to the town in the first place. That if they please to buy that 



144: HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

part of it wliich is within Haverhill line, they may have it at a reasonahle 
rate, or if they please to accept it now, before it be otherwise disposed of, 
or if they Avill buy that which is granted to particular men and laid out 
to them ; If the Town will buy the whole tract of land they shall have it 
for 2 shillings per acre, or if they will give acre for acre of land and 
meadow where they and I shall agi'ee, it shall content me. 

Eobert Swan, sen." 

The Eecorder adds, that, — 

"Considerable discourse was had about Eobt Swan's motion, which was 
unanimously opposed with manifestation of great dislike of 11 Swan's pro- 
ceedings and because he showed no original title, but only a blank, j^retended 
to be Mr Endicot's title : and because of the Town's present being in pos- 
session, and having so been according to the law of possession. The town 
declares that till they be dispossessed by law they will not buy of K Swan 
or of any other, but will hold what they account their own." 

Upon this. Swan desired the town to have laid out to him those lands 
which he could make appear to be legally due him, but which he declared 
had been kept from him twenty -three or twenty-four years by George 
Browne.'* He further declared, that he had often labored to have it done, 
but could neither have the lands laid out, or any satisfactory answer con- 
cerning the same, and that he was much reproached, and also impoverished 
by the malignity of Lieutenant Browne's spirit towards him. 

In reply to this, the town directed Swan " to make his right appear, & 
then justice should be done to him as to other men." 

Swan then asked that the town " would call Lieut Browne, James Davis, 
and himself, to an account for their actions since they were appointed to 
lay out and rectify lands," at the same time delaring that there had been 
" such irregular actions done as may cause the children yet unborn to 
curse us hereafter," This " was spoken to, but no vote passed by the Town 
to do anything in it." 

Lieutenant Browne's turn now came, and he plumply charged Goodman 
Swan with having told him a wrong story about a certain brook, on ac- 
count of which Browne had laid out more land to Swan than he was entitled 
to. Upon this, the Eecorder adds, " several words, and some of them hard, 
passed, but there was no further proceed in order to further enquiry, 
and it being late and past time for a vote, the Moderator declared that the 
meeting was at an end, or dissolved, with respect to the present session." 

At the next meeting, Swan asked the town to confirm to him a piece of 
meadow land, and his fourth division of land, "which he had laid out for 

* Browne was one of the town's " lot layers." 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 145 

himself." Tte town rejected his proposal, and protested against this, and 
all such acts, by whomsoever done. 

Notwithstanding these matters of dispute. Swan evidently had the con- 
fidence of the town, for the very next vote, at the same meeting, placed 
him on a committee to run disputed and uncertain bounds, — a most im- 
portant office. Browne, however, " openly declared that he would not any 
longer stand as a lot-layer," and Thomas Whittier was chosen inhis place. 
Swan was evidently too much for him. 

We find the following among the records of births, marriages, and 
deaths, for 168G: — "Elizabeth Emerson, single-woman, had Dorothy, 
born April 10 — 86 ; and a second time, though never married, Twins, born 
May 8 — 9 1 , who were both made away with privately, and found dead May 
10 — 91." The Eecorder then says : — "The Mother lay long in prison, 
bitt at the long run, in the year 1G91, as I take it, was executed at Boston 
for the murthering of the two babes, or one of them."'"' 

About this time, a rule was adopted requiring all petitions to the town 
to be in writing. 

A law of the General Court required all swine running at large to be 
yoked, and also to have two rings in their snout, but allowed towns a dis- 
cretion in the matter of yoking. This town decided that they might go 
unyoked, if their owners would be responsible for damages. 

At the annual meeting for 1687, Joseph Peasely, being chosen constable 
for the ensuing year, " by bringing in of paper votes,"f " made his plea 
for freedom," which not being granted, he moved that a second constable 
be chosen, — " because the Town was large and many lived remote so that 
one man could not well do the work of warning meetings and gathering of 
rates alone." This last request was granted, and John Ayer, junior, 
chosen second constable. It was left to them to divide their wards and 
their work, as they might themselves agree. It seems, however, that they 
could not agree, and the town released Ayer, and thus compelled Peasely 
to do all the work alone. A few years later, two constables were regularly 
chosen, and from that time, two continued to be chosen annually for many 
years. 

The following shows the great value the town at this time placed upon 
its fisheries : — 

" In answer to the proposition of some, and the universal desire of the 
people, that care, by an order, might be taken that fish might not, by Dams 

» The Recorder was correct. The father of the childi-en, was Samuel Ladd, a married man, and then 
tha father of eight children by his lawful wife, — the two youngest tivins ! Elizabeth was the daughter 
of Michael Emerson, and the one he kicked and beat so shamefully in 1674. 

t This was the &-st time any otticers, except Moderator and Selectmen, were chosen by written ballot. 

19 



146 HISTORY OF HATERHILL. 

and Wiers, made in the Sawmill Eiver, or Fishing River, or any other, be 
stopped of the usual course up to the Pond, but have free passage up the 
Kiver in this Town : 

" The Town declares that they expect there shall be free passage for fish 
up the Sawmill River and Fishing River and all other Rivers, brooks and 
creeks in this Town, in all suitable seasons of the year for their getting up 
to the Pond to spawn, and in special in the night time ; and to that end 
do order that no man shall make a dam, or suffer his dam so to stop any 
passage the fish used to have to the Ponds or Pond, without leaving his 
dam or "VYier or other device open in the night time for the fish." 

Similar reasons to those that led them to seek the preservation of their 
fisheries, also induced them to make vigorous efforts to increase their flocks. 

We are unable to say when sheep were first introduced into the town, 
but it is probable that a few were owned by the inhabitants at an early 
period of its settlement. The first mention we find of them in the Town 
Records, is under date of 1684, when "the proprietors of the Great Plain 
thinking to lay down the said field for some years to be improved for a 
sheep pasture," the town gave them leave to fence it, choose oflBcers, and 
make all necessary regulations for that purpose. •' 

The next mention of them, is the following, in 1687 : — 

" It being the interest and desire of the inhabitants, for the sake of 
back, belly and purse, to get into a stock, and a way to keep a stock of 
sheep, in which all endeavours hitherto have been invalid and of no effect ; 
For a further trial : The Selectmen have hereby power granted them to 
call forth the inhabitants capable of labor with suitable tools, and in suit- 
able companies about Michaelmass, to clear some land at the town's end, 
sides, or skirts ; as they in their discretion shall think meet to direct, to 
make it capable and fit for sheep to feed upon with the less hazzard : and 
he that is warned as above, and doth not accordingly come and attend the 
service, shall pay a fine of 2s per day." 

From the above it is evident that the " hazzard " of sheep raising was 
occasioned by the ravages of wolves among the flocks. We have already 
alluded to the trouble these pests occasioned the settlers. In addition to 
the bounty paid by the colony for their destruction, this town (and others) 
for a long time paid forty shillings for every wolf killed in the town. In 
1685, Amesbury repealed this additional bounty, and, to prevent fraud, 
this town soon afterward did the same, but still allowed the selectmen to 

o Coffin, in his History of Neivbury, estimates that there were in that town, in 1685, over five thousand 
sheep. The owners in the several neigliborhoods clubbed together, hired a shepherd, and by means of 
portable fences, oi "gates," took turns in pasturing them, — thus enriching their corn land. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 147 

pay such sums as they should agree upon in particular cases. This plan 
did not prove satisfactoi-y, however, and two years afterward a regular 
bounty of fifteen shillings was voted to any person who should kill a full 
grown wolf within the town's bounds, and seven shillings sixpence for each 
young one. The liberal bounty paid for their destruction, ultimately had 
the desired effect, and the flodis of the settlers were permitted to multiply 
without their molestation. '•= 

<* In 1696, Timotliy Eaton petitioned the town to grant him a bounty, more than the country allowed, 
for killing a full grown she-wolf on the ox-common. The town granted him ten shillings " for tilling 
said wolf since he declares it was a bitch wolf and that she will not bring any more whelps." 



1-18 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 



CHAPTER XII. 



INDIAN TROUBLES. PROM 1688 TO 1695. 



In 1688, a fresh Indian war broke out on the frontiers of New England, 
As a pretense for commencing iiostilities, the Indians charged the English 
with neglecting to pay the tribute of corn, which had been stipulated by 
the treaty of 1678;='' obstructing the fish in Saco river with seines; de- 
frauding them in trade, and with granting their lands without their con- 
sent."f The French used every effort to inflame their resentment, in order 
to revenge the recent injuries they had themselves received from the 
English. I 

The first acts of hostility commenced at North Yarmouth, by killing 
cattle, and threatening the people. This was followed by robbery, and 
capturing the inhabitants. 

To add to the distresses and troubles of the Massachusetts colonists, they 
also found themselves involved in difficulties relating to their charter. 
Complaints had from time to time been made in England against the colon- 
ists, and in the height of the distresses of Phillip's ivar, and while the 
colony were contending with the natives for the possession of the soil, 
these complaints were renewed with -vigor. An inquiry was set on foot, 
and followed, from time to time, until 1684, when judgment was given 
against their charter. In 1686, a commission arrived, appointing a presi- 
dent and council to administer the government. This administration was, 
however, short, and in December of the same year. Sir Edmund Andres 
arrived with a commission for the government of all the New England 
colonies, except Connecticut. 

It was stipulated, in this treaty, that the inhabitants should return to their deserted settlements, on 
conditioR of paying one peck of corn annually, for each family, by way of acknowledgment to the Indians 
for the possession of their lands. 

t Belknap 1, 242. 

J France and England were early competitors in America. Each claimed a portion of its territory, 
assumed jurisdiction, and attempted its colonization. Their rivalry and hatred had existed for centu- 
ries — it was indeed hereditary, — and in consequence of it, the New England colonies were early in- 
volved in difficulties. Acadia and Canada were wrested from the French in 1029, but were restored by 
the treaty of St. Germain, in 1632. Acadia was again conquered in 16i)i, but restored by the treaty of 
Breda, in 1069. In 1066, tlie conquest of Canada was a second time attempted, but without success; 
and again in 16S6, with a like result. These difficulties continued until the peace of Utrecht, in IT IS. , 
In 17i4, war again broke out between France and England, and continued until the reduction of Canada, 
in 1700, and the treaty of Pails, 1703. During these wars, the colonies were continually involved, and 
severely suffiired. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 149 

The administration of Andros was most arbitrary and oppressive. The 
Press was restrained ; public thanksgiving, without an order from the 
Crown, was prohibited ; fees of all officers were increased ; and the peo- 
ple were even compelled to petition for new patents for their lands, for 
which patents they were obliged to pay exorbitant prices." As a conse- 
quence of these, and many other equally oppressive and arbitrary proceed- 
ings, the Colonists were greatly disquieted, and excited. 

In September, 1689, a Special Justices' Coui't was ordered, to "make 
inquiry in the several towns of Gloster, Haverhill, & Boxford, and ex- 
amine and binde over such persons as have beene Factious & Seditious there 
and contemptuously refused to obey and execute the warrants of the Trea- 
surer." 

In the language of Andros himself, " there was no such thing as a town 
in the whole country ; " and to assemble in town meeting for purposes of 
deliberation was esteemed an act of sedition and riot. The unhappy state 
of affairs at this period may be further judged from the following illustra- 
tions, which we find among the original papers in the State Archives : — 

In the winter of 1688—9, Joseph Emerson and Jacob Whiticker, of this 
town, were pressed as soldiers for Andros, and sent in the expedition to 
Pemaquid. Their depositions, given afterward, before Nathaniel Salton- 
stall, Assistant, show that the soldiers of the tyrant were most shamefully 
abused, and maltreated. Simon Wainwright, of this town, had twenty- 
seven barrels of cider taken from him, by the excise officers of Andros. f 
Onisephorous Mash, constable of Haverhill, was forced to pay five pounds 
three shillings, in money, for the drawing up of a bond for him to appear 
at Salem, because the town had not appointed a commissioner on rates to 
meet at the shire town to assist in making rates for the county. 

Daniel Bradley, one of the Selectmen, was forced to pay five pounds, 
one shilling, for a similar bond, on the same case. 

Such was the unfortunate condition of the colonists, when troubles again 
broke out with the Indians, in 1688. To quell the disturbance, Andros, 
with seven or eight hundred men, marched into the eastern country, in 
November, and built several forts ; and though many of his men died by 
hardships and exposure, not one Indian was killed, or even seen. They 
had all retired into their distant winter quarters. J 

* One of the first acts of Andros was to le\-y a tax of twenty pence on each poll, and one penny in the 
pound upon "all the late colonies and provinces toward defraying the public charges of the government." 
Some towns asked to he excused from paying the tax, and others refused. Haverhill, Salisbury, Rowley, 
and Andover, were iined for their contumacy. 

t It appears that Wainwright made twenty barrels in 1G8S, from the produce of his own orchard. 

X Joseph Emerson and Jacob Whiticker, of this town, were pressed as soldiers lor this expedition. 



150 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

With the opening of spring, the situation of the settlers again became 
critical. None knew when or where another attack would he made, and 
we need not wonder that their hearts were oppressed with the gloomiest 
forebodings. The following extract, from a letter of Samuel Ayer, con- 
stable of Haverhill, to the General Court, under date of February 11, 
1689 ', — in answer to a citation for the town to appear and answer to the 
charge of " withholding the one half of their proportion of rates," — touch- 
ingly represents the condition of the town : — 

" I pray you consider our poor condition. There are many that have 
not corn to pay their rates, many more which have not money : to strainf 
I know not what to take : we are a great way from any market, to make 
money of auigh thing we have : and now there is not anigh way to trans- 
port to other places : I pray consider our poor condition." 

Early in April, news reached Boston that William, Prince of Orange, 
had invaded England, and dethroned the King. Animated with the hope 
of deliverance, the people rushed to arms ; took possession of the fort ; 
seized Andros, and other obnoxious characters ; placed them in confine- 
ment, and organized a Council of Safety. % The latter immediately sent 
circulars to the several towns, recommending that delegates be chosen by 
each, to assemble in convention at Boston on the 9th of the following 
month, to advise with the Council. The following was the answer of this 
town : — 

" Haverhill May 20, 1689. 

By an express from ye council for safety, &c, dated May ye 10th 1689. 
The Town being meet do unanimously, nemine contradicente, declare yt 
they think it most eligible & safe to wait for information from ye Crown 
in England, according to promise, & declaration, so yt we may ye better 
know wt we may at present do ; & do pray yt ye Council, now in being 
for Safety of ye people, & Conservation of ye Peace do take care effect- 
ually in all publique affaires, «& in all imergences. And we do hereby 
further declare yt we will be assistant in ye charges yt shal come unto, 
both wh our persons and estates, so yt ye Persons that are or shal be put 
into Hold§ be effectually secured, & have not too full a libertie of visitors, 
either made or Eemade, whereby they may escape, wc we hear hath been 
attempted. 

This was read, voted & passed, nemine contradicente, as attest 

N Saltonstall Kecordr." 

° State Archives. t Restrain. 

X Xathaniel Saltonstall was chosen one of this connciL 

§ Jail, or prison. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 151 

Cornet Peter Ayerwas chosen to represent Haverhill at the Convention." 

Scarcely had the colonists recovered from their surprise at this sudden 
change of affairs in their government, when their attention was again 
called to the necessity of further protection against the Indians. The fol- 
lowing, from 3Iinck, is well worth inserting in this place : — 

" The Indians, for some time past, had been hovering over the town in 
such a manner as kept the inhabitants in continual alarm. Small parties 
were almost daily seen traversing the adjacent woods, and slyly approach- 
ing the farm-houses in search of plunder. The friendly intercourse that 
had existed so many years between them was broken, and open hostility 
succeeded. So early as 1675, the fortifications around the meeting-house 
were repaired, and in the following year we find that Ephraim Kingsbury 
was slain ; but it was in the summer of this year that they commenced 
the work of murder and desolation in good earnest. The tawny savage 
sharpened his knife and tomahawk for the work of blood, and glutted his 
imagination with the atrocities he should commit. The war began — the 
fierce and inhuman contest on the part of the savages. It proceeded, and 
what deeds of valor were performed — what acts of chivalry graced the 
lives of our Fathers ! The plaided Highlander, armed -with his claymore 
and battle-axe, was not more heroic ; the stern and determined patriot, 
who rallied beneath the banner of AVallace, was no braver ; the enthusi- 
astic Crusader, who fought and bled on the plains of the Holy Land, never 
exhibited a more fearless and undaunted spirit. Some of their deeds have 
been emblazoned on the page of history ; but many of them, until now, 
have been permitted to rest in obscurity. 

There was but little genuine bravery among the savages ; and, in fact, 
we do not recollect one instance of the kind, on their part, where pure, 
high-souled and chivalrous courage was displayed, during the whole war, — 
a period of nearly thirty years. But they were generally cruel, vindictive 
and treacherous. Such aged and infirm persons as were unable to perform 
a journey through the wilderness, were generally despatched. Infants, 
soon as they became troublesome, had their mouths filled with burning 
embers, or their brains dashed out against the nearest stone or tree. But 
we have one thing to record which speaks highly in their favor ; that is, 

'-' The people of Massachusetts soon applied for the restoration of their charter, or the grant of a new 
one. A definite answer was deferred, but the council was authorized to administer the government ac- 
cording to the old charter, till further directions were given. A new charter was received in 1692. By 
this charter, the appointment of the governor was in the crown, and ever)' freeholder of forty shillings 
sterling a year, and every inhabitant of forty pounds sterling, personal estate, was allowed to vote for 
representatives. 



152 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

the modesty with which they generally treated their captive women. We 
do not recollect of but one instance-' where they attempted to abuse their 
chastity in word or action. f 

Haverhill was a frontier town for ncai-ly seventy years, and but few 
towns suffered so severely from the Indians. At this period we can have 
but a faint conception of the sufferings of the inhabitants. Surrounded 
with an immense and mostly unexplored forest — thinly scattered over a 
large tract of land — and constantly exposed to the attacks of savage 
hordes, are circumstances which have made us wonder, why they should 
continue to march onward and onward into the wilderness, terrific for its 
extent, and unfurl the banner of civilization under the very shadow of the 
enemy's wigwam. The contests between them and the savages, were not 
like those between civilized nations ; but it was a war for extermination 
on one side, characterized with acts of the basest cruelty and revenge for 
defence on the other. The foeraen frecjuently fought hand to hand ; the 
bloody frays were frequent and sometimes long. 

The Indians made their attacks slyly, and cautiously approached their 
enemy by skulking behind the intervening objects, until they came so near 
that they felt perfectly sure of their victim. At other times, they would 
fall upon the inhabitants before the break of day, and barbarously slaugh- 
ter them while they were unprepared to defend themselves. The people 
always went armed to their daily labor, and on the sabbath they were seen 
on their way to Church, with a psalm-book in one hand, and a gun, loaded 
and primed, in the other. l?ut even then, while kneeling beneath the roof 
of the sanctuary, they were not safe ; if they went into the fields at noontide, 
with their spades and mattocks, their foes were behind them ; if they slept 
within their dwellings when the sun had gone down, the darkness would 
not protect them ; but ere the light had stole upon the east, their blood, 
and the blood of their beloved, might pool together upon their hearths. In 
summer and winter, at the budding and searing of the leaf, they were alike 
exposed to hardships and to death. 

Some of the most heroic deeds accomplished by the inhabitants of this 
town, were performed by women, — by those whose limbs were not made to 

" This was in the case of Mrs. Hannah Duston, when her captors told her that she, and her companions, 
mnst be stripped naked, and run tlic gauntlet. 

t Testimonies in favnr of the savages, in this particular, arc very frequent. Mary Rowlandson, who 
was taken prisoner at Lancaster, in 1G75, says in her narrative, (page 35), — "I have been in the midst 
, of these roaring lions and savage bears, that feared neither God nor man, nor the devil, by day and night, 
alone and in company, sleeping all sorts together, and yet not one'of them ever ollered me the least abuse 
of uuchastity in word or action.'' Elizabeth Hanson, who was captured in Dover, in 1724, says in her 
narrative, that " the Indians are very crivil towards their captive women, not offering any incivility by any 
indecent carriage." Charlevoix, speaking of the Indians of Canada, says, (letter 7) "there is no example 
that a.Dy have taken the least liberty with the French women, even when they were their prisoners." 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 153 

T^ield the weapons of war, — ^whose hearts could never exult in a profusion 
of blood, — and whose sphere of usefulness, of honor and of glory, was in 
the precincts of the domestic circle." 

Dover was the first to suffer. On the night of the 27th of June, the 
garrisons were attacked, twenty-three persons killed, and twenty-nine cap- 
tured. Before the neighboring people could be collected, the Indians had 
withdrawn, with their captives and their plunder, toward Canada. 

In August, a party of Indians fell upon the settlement at Oyster Eiver 
(Durham, N. H.) and killed eighteen persons. 

On the loth of the same month, a small party made their appear- 
ance in the northerly part of this town, and killed Daniel Brad- 
ley. They then went to the field of Nathaniel Singletary, near by, 
where he and his oldest son were at work. They approached in their slow 
and serpent-like manner, until they came within a few rods, when they 
shot Singletary, who fell and died on the spot; his son attempted to es- 
cape, but was quickly overtaken and made prisoner. The Indians then 
scalped Singletary, and commenced a hasty retreat ; but their prisoner 
soon eluded their vigilance, and returned to his home, on the same day, 
to make glad the hearts of his afflicted relatives, Nathaniel Singletary 
was a " squatter " on the parsonage lands. The marks of the cellar of 
his house are still to be seen, on the land now owned by Benjamin Kim- 
ball, on the Parsonage Eoad — a short distance northwest from the gate. 

Bradley was killed on the " Parsonage Eoad," not far from the present 
Atkinson Depot.'' 

About the same time, two men were also killed at Andover. 

These forays caused the inhabitants of the town again to . appeal 
to the General Court, for assistance in the work of watchfulness, and de- 
fence,! and on the 29th of the same month, the " Ipswich Horse" were 
ordered to this town, as a place of rendezvous for forces going to meet the 
enemy. 

The savages again made their appearance, on the 17th of the following 
October, when they wounded and made prisoner of Ezra Eolfe,J who died 
three days after being taken. 

" On the 30th of September, 1690, the following petition of his son, Daniel, was addressed to the Court: 
"To the honord cortt now siting att ipswige this may signify to 3-our honors that whereas bytheprouvi- 
dcnce of Gid my father Daniel Bradly was slaine by the hand of the heathen and left no will as to the 
deposing of his outward estatte I request his brother Joseph may be appointed administrator. 

DANIEL BRADLEY." (1) 
This request was granted. 



(1) This name does not appear in the Town Records among the children of the above Daniel Bradley, 
t Men had been previously stationed in town, as garrison guards; but in July, (22d) apart of them 
(those from Rowley) had been ordered home, on account of the •' busy season of the year.'' — flist. Rowley, 
X Rojfe lived not far from the present North Parish Meeting-house. 

20 



154 HISTORY OF nAVEEHILL. 

No further attacks were made by the Indians that year, and the inhabi- 
tants began to hope that they might be spared a repetition of the bloody 
work. 

Toward the latter part of 1689, Rev. Benjamin Eolfe, of Newbury, be- 
gan to preach in town, as an assistant to Mr. Ward, and, as it seems, with 
general acceptance,-' 

At a town meeting, January 20, 1690, called " to see about getting a 
minister to join with Mr. Ward," it was voted to give Mr. Eolfe *' forty 
pounds per annum in Wheat, Rye and Indian," to join and assist Mr. 
Ward, and after Mr, Ward's death, the town would "farther allow 
what shall be rational." According to the Recorder, there was "grand 
opposition " to the above vote, and it was finally declared " not to stand." 
The record intimates, that " Mr. Ward and his son Saltonstall" left the 
meeting, on account of the opposition to the vote. While they were ab- 
sent, the town voted to pay Mr. Eolfe the above sum for one year, and his 
diet, or board, and that Mr. Ward should have his full salary, provided he, 
at his own cost, boarded Mr, Eolfe. 

After a few months of comparative quiet, the colonists were again 
startled by the intelligence that the French and their savage allies were 
busily^ preparing for a renewal of their bloody work with the opening of 
spring. The prospects of the inhabitants of the frontier towns were indeed 
gloomy. 

At the annual meeting, nothing was done, except to elect officers. Who 
can weigh the load of fear and anxiety that rested upon the hearts of our 
fathers, as they contemplated the dark future before them ? 

But little time was left them for suspcnsse. Anon the news came that a 
large body of the enemy had attacked the beautiful village of Schnectady, 
New York, massacred sixty of its inhabitants, captured twenty-seven more, 
and reduced the town to ashes ! Hardly had the people realized tlie fear- 
ful import of the intelligence, when another herald announced an attack 
on Salmon Falls, and the murder of twenty-seven of its inhabitants, while 
fifty-two others had been hui'ried away into captivity. No time was to 
be lost ! 

On the 24th of March, a meeting was held, " to consider what ie to be 
done for the present security of the place against the enemy, by sending 
for help abroad, or to drmo off. " After voting the selectmen " full powers 
in all respects," the Recorder informs us that " a small discourse was 
opened about the then state of the Town, how to stand against the Enemy, 

*> Mr. Eolfe was chaplain to the forces sent to Fnlmoutb, Maine, from July 14th to November 14thf 
1689, and probably came to this town soon after his rctivrn from that Province. — State Arch. Vol. il, p. 49. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 155 

and to see for a livelyhood for hereafter, if lives of the people should he 
spared ; But it soon ceased and was given over, and nothing done that was 
to satisfaction in that affair, the people heing out of a way for their own 
suhsistence ; and therefore the Moderator declared the meeting closed." 

Eeader, mark the deep significance of that language. So imminent to 
them seemed the danger, and so feeble th« resistance that they could offer, 
unaided and alone, that it was seriously debated, whether it was not best 
to draw off — to abandon the town entirely, and seek safety in some less 
exposed place ! How must the mother's heart have sunk within her, when 
the husband and father returned from that meeting, with no word of hope 
or comfort for herself or her little ones. As the sun withdrew that day, 
and left the hills and valleys of Pentucket enshrouded in darkness, so the 
bright sun of hope withdrew from the hearts of its inhabitants, and left 
them buried in the dark shadows of despondency, and feai-ful appre- 
hension. 

As a means of defense, the selectmen appointed six garrisons, and four 
•"houses of refuge."-'- One of the garrisons was commanded by Sergeant 
John Haseltine. This house stood on the north side of the road, about 
half way up Pecker s Hill, and a few rods northwesterly from that for- 
merly occupied by Samuel Pecker. Haseltine had seven men under his 
command: — Onesiphorus Marsh, sen., Onisephorus Marsh, jun., Nathan- 
iel Haseltine, Ebcn Webster, Joseph Holt, Thomas Ayer, and Joseph 
Bond. 

This garrison was owned by Onesiphorus ]\Iarsh, sen., who was the an- 
cestor of those of that name in this town. The first notice we have of him, 
is in 1684, when he built the house above described.! He owned the 
principal part of that hill, and for many years it was known by the name 
of Marsh's Hill. The name was once generally spelt Mash. Another ac- 
count states that the garrison was commanded by Jonathan Marsh. 

Another was commanded by Sergeant John Webster ; this, Mirick sup- 
posed, was the brick house which stands on the bank of the river, three 
fourths of a mile east of the bridge, and formerly occupied by Widow 
Nathaniel Whittier, but now owned and occupied by Joseph B, Spiller ; 
but, as that house was not built until 1724, 3iirick must have been mis- 
taken. It was, perhaps, located somewhere in that vicinity. Webster 
had eight men under his command : — Stephen Webster, Samuel Watts 
Nicholas Brown, Jacob Whittaker, John Marsh, Eobert Ford, Samuel 
Ford, and Thomas Kingsbury. 

<» It is not certain that all these were appointed at that time, but most probably they were. 
t Perhaps he came from Hingham, as we find the same name in that town, in 1674. 



156 HISTOEY OF HAVERHILL. 

The third ^ras owned and commanded by Jonathan Emerson ; a part of 
it is now standing on the northwest corner of Winter and Harrison streets. 

The fourth was commanded by James Ayer, and stood nearly opposite 
the house of the late Captain John Ayer, 2d, on Pond street. 

The fifth was commanded by Joseph Bradley, and was situated in the 
northerly part of the town, not far from the house of the late Zebulon Sar- 
gent ; it was long since torn down, and no traces of it now remain. 

The sixth was owned and commanded by Captain John White ; and was 
situated near the ' * White " house, on Mill street. He had six men under his 
command: — Stephen Dow, sen., Stephen Dow, jun., John Dow, Edward 
Brumidge, Israel Hendrick, Israel , jun, 

Two brick houses, belonging to Joseph and Nathaniel Peaslee, in the 
easterly part of the town, and the houses of Major Nathaniel Saltonstall 
and Captain Simon Wainwright, were appointed for houses of refuge. A 
few soldiers were stationed in them, who were under the command of the 
owners. Two watch-houses were erected, one of which stood near the house 
occupied by the late John Dow, on Main street, .and the other was on the 
bank of the river, a few rods east of the " Duncan Place," on Water street. 
The houses of Joseph and Nathaniel Peaslee are yet standing ; the former 
was owned by the late Nathan Sawyer, and stands a short distance east of 
the latter, which is now owned and occupied by Captain Jesse Newcomb, 
and is situated about two miles east of Haverhill Bridge. 

Tlie house of Mr. Saltonstall stood on the site of that of the Widow 
Samuel W. Duncan. That of Captain Simon Wainwright, stood on the site 
of the " Emerson House," opposite Winter Street Church. 

The school-house, which stood on what is now Pentucket Cemetery, was 
also used for the same pm-pose. A guard of soldiers was stationed in each 
of these houses, who were on the look-out for the enemy, night and day. 

Besides these garrisons, and houses of refuge, many private houses were 
barracaded, and the inhabitants generally were prepared for any emergency. 

" Most of the garrisons, and two of the houses of refuge, (those beloug- 
ing to Joseph and Nathaniel Peaslee) were built of brick, and were two 
stories high ; those that were not built of this material, had a single laying 
of it between the outer and inner walls. They had but one outside door, 
which was often so small that but one person could enter at a time ; their 
windows were about two feet and a half in length, eighteen inches in 
breadth, and were secured on the inside with iron bars. Their glass was 
very small, cut in the shape of a diamond, was extremely thick, and fas- 
tened in with lead instead of putty. There were generally but two rooms 
in the basement story, and tradition says that they entered the chamber 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILIi. 157 

with the help of a ladder, instead of stairs, so that the inmates could re- 
treat into them, and take it up if the basement-story should be taken by 
the enemy. Their fire-places were of such enormous sizes, that they could 
burn their wood sled-length, very conveniently ; and the ovens opened on 
the outside of the building, generally at one end, behind the fire-place ; 
and were of such dimensions that we should suppose a suflScient quantity 
of bread might have been baked in them to supply a regiment of hungry 
mouths. 

It was truly an age of terror with these hardy and courageous men ; and 
their descendants can have but a faint idea of the difficulties they encoun- 
tered, and of the dangers that continually hung over their heads, threatening 
every moment to overwhelm them like a torrent* Almost every man was 
a soldier, and many, who lived in remote parts of the town, moved, with 
their families, into the vicinity of a garrison, or a house of refuge. 

This was the case with Stephen Dow and his son, who lived in the east 
part of the town, and moved near to the garrison of Capt. John White. 
The Indians had a peculiar whistle, which was made by placing both hands 
to the mouth, and was known to be their call. It was frequently heard 
in the adjacent woods, and tradition says, that Stephen Dow, jun., was 
the only person in the garrison who could exactly imitate it ; and that he 
frequently concealed himself, and endeavored to decoy them within the 
range of the soldiers' bullets. But it does not say that he ever suc- 
ceeded. "'■■= 

April 7th, another meeting was held, "to consider what may, & is to 
be done, as to sending to the Council or General Court for their affording 
help to this place by soldiers, as it is a frontier town, exposed to great 
danger, &c." 

At this meeting, it was " Voted and agreed by the Town that a petition 
be drawn up & sent by a meet hand to the Council and General Court, to 
have sent to us, as we are a frontier town, upon the Country's charges, 40 
men at least, to be a constant daily scout, to keep out without the outmost 
garrisons, and in constant service, so as to watch the enemy & prevent &, 
surprise them, or give notice to others within, that they may be encouraged 
to do somewhat in order to future livelyhood, and in case of need to stand 
for their lives." 

Cornet Peter Ayer was " particularly made choice of to present, prefer, 
& prosecute " the petition. 

* MiricJc. 



158 HISTORY OF Haverhill; 

In answer to tlie petition of the tOTvn, soldiers were sent from Newbury, 
and other placci?, to Haverhill, Amcshiiry, and Salisbury. -'^ 

Scarcely had the inhabitants made their preparations for defence and 
security, ere the murderous savages were again in their vicinity. 

On the 5th of July, eight persons were killed at Exeter ; and two days 
afterward, three were killed at Amesbury. It was no longer safe to ven- 
ture out of doors, except in armed parties, or in the immediate vicinity 
of the garrisons, where watch was kept night and day for the enemy. 
None knew when or where an attack would be made, and the only safety 
was in strongly fortified garrisons, armed soldiers, and constant watch- 
fulness. 

Immediately after the •news of the attacks at Exeter and Amesbury 
reached Haverhill, Major Saltonstall despatched a messenger to the Coun- 
cil, at Boston, with an urgent appeal for immediate aid. The following 
is his letter, copied from the original in the Archives of the State : — 

Havll: July 10: 1 GOO, at almost 3 
afternoon ; 
Hond: Gentlemen 

I am now by ye Posts from Salisbury put upon hurrying up a line or 
two to yor: selves, & bee: of my shortness of time I cannot stand to enter 
ye abreviatc of ye 2 Lres: to me ; & yrf : I have sent them to your selves 
by ye same hands yt brought ym to me ; & pray that ye Lres: may by ye 
same hands be rcturnd, (wc yy promise if it be pennitted.) 

I shal but add a few words ; Capt: Buswells request I judg rationall, 
& most necessary to be attended ; I can as I wrote by Lt: Johnson of 
Almsbury on monday last say. That Havll: hath as much need of present 
& setled assistance as any place ; I beseech you cast us not off ; or give 
us comand to draw off. I do not think it much to avail but as a present 
satisfaction yt men visit us affr: mischcif is done us ; for before yy can be 
wth us ye enimic is hidden or gone, & nothing to be done but for ye men 
to return, unless yy would stay as men in service, or occasion shal offer. 
Indeed ye charg is grt:, but tho: all are not, yet some arc willing to bear 
their part. Foot men are most advisable, & serviceable & so, in ye end, 

* About this time, one Isttac Morrill, a nntlve of New Jersey, cnmo to Newbnry, to entice Indlnns and 
Negroes to luftVc their masters and go witli him, Rttylnff that tho KngUsh should be cut off, and the Negroes 
should bo free. He was arrested, May 20, 1000, and sent to Ipswich for trial. Their intention was, to 
take a vessel out of tho dock at Nowl)ury, go to Canada, join tho BVonch, and come down upon tho back 
side of the country, and save none but tho negroes and Indians. They intended to come with four or fivo 
hundred Indians, and three hundred Canadians, lictween Haverhill and Amesbury, over Merrimack river, 
near " Indian river by Archelaus hill on the backside of Jnhn Kmrry's meadow and destroy, and then they 
might easily destroy such amoU towns as Haverhill and Amesbury." — Coffin Hist. Mwbiiry, 153. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 159 

it will be found ; excepting only a very few to be imployed in carrying or 
fetching newes ; men complain more of difficulty to provide for horses 
than for many more men. 

The Ld: be yor Counsellor & guid in all these difficulties ; Let us have 
a speedy dispatch of the Posts, Philip Grcle, & Wm Hely both of Salisb: 
yt I may give accot: to ym y t send to me ; I am not in a capacity to help 
ym, but want men for or necessary defence ; & orders to keep or own 
men to duty upon their j)eril, & for their being sent to Boston for judgmt 
according to yr desert, yt is, some of ym. I am Gentlemen 

your true servant 

X; Saltonstall 

On the 31st of August, as Samuel Parker, and a small boy, were engaged 
in curing hay in the East Parish, at the east-meadow, a party of Indians 
surprised them, and shot Parker dead on the spot. The boy ran in an op- 
posite direction from the smoke of the assailants, and by concealing himself 
in the tall grass, escaped uninjured, and was the first to bear the mclau- 
cholly tidings of Parker's death to his family,-' 

September 21st, is memorable for an attack on Casco, in which eight 
persons were killed, and twenty-four wounded. This was the last foray of 
that season, and the Indians, according to their custom, gi-adually withdrew 
as winter approached, toward Canada, 

Believing that the inhabitants could now, for the winter months at least, 
take care of themselves, the General Court (Oct. 10) ordered "that Mai 
Saltonstall do dismiss home the scout of ten troopers appointed to be em- 
ployed between Haverhill & Salisbury by direction of the said ]\Iajor for 
security of said towns in the time of harvest," On the 22d of the same 
month, they ordered that all the garrison soldiers posted in the towns of 
Havei'hill, Salisbury, and Amesbury, be forthwith dismissed. Two weeks 
afterward, (Nov. 7) all the officers and soldiers at Piscataqua were oi'dered 
home; and a few weeks still later, (Dec. 13) one-third of all the eastern 
garrisons were disbanded. 

While the inhabitants were thus surrounded by all the horrors of savage 
warfare, the small pox broke out among them. This loathsome disease 
was then but little understood, and was much more terrible to encounter 

* The following doubtless refers to this att^ck, though the account is far from correct; — 
"This morne about seven ye the clock nons came to me from Kowley yt Slajr Saltonetall sent to New- 
berry : vizt, yt two men of naverhill was in the evening last night about three miles out of the towne 
lookig aft£r tlieircorne: their fields were about fift rods one from the other ; each about their owne ; one 
of them is escaped who heard a gun which he suiiposed to be shot at ye other man & espying Indians Kun 
for it but saith yt he heard at least ten more gims <S; ye man not returning he is supposed to be killed, for 
he that escaped heard them give a Grat Shout." — Extract from a Letter of Hamuel JppUton, of Ips- 
wich, to the Governor. September 1, 1090. 



160 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

than at the present day ; and we need not wonder that the town was 
greatly alarmed. A pest-house was erected on the hill east of the house 
of the late Joseph Bradley, to which the infected were removed. But few, 
however, died of the disease. 

Ilirick says, "We can learn of but six persons who died with this dis- 
ease. They were Abraham Hendrick, Mary Ford, and her daughter Mary, 
Josiah Starling, Ruth Hartshome, and Thomas Marsh. The records say 
that John Stockbridge ' went to sea & died of the small pox,' " 

Taking advantage of the short respite from savage incursion, the town 
again turned their attention to the matter of securing a minister. 
Mr. Eolfc had now been laboring among them a year, and was so well 
liked, that a meeting was called (Dec. 31) to see about securing his " fur- 
ther help in the ministry." Thcj"^ unanimously voted to do so, if they 
could, and a committee was chosen to treat with him. 

At the annual town meeting the following spring, (1691) nothing was 
done except to choose town officers. With the opening of spting, the in- 
habitants feared fresh outrages by the Indians, and they had little heart 
to engage in anything except measures for the support and defense of their 
families. 

On the IGth of June, John Eobie, of this town, was killed by the sav- 
ages. Warned by the impending danger, Eobie had taken his family from 
his own dwelling, to a house of refuge, that stood where the house of Ben- 
jamin Clement now stands, in the North Parish. He was returning from 
this mission with his cart and oxen, and had reached about midway of the 
burying-ground, near the residence of Jesse Clement, when a ball struck 
him down. His son, Ichabod, who was with him, was taken prisoner, but 
soon after managed to escape, and returned home. Eobie's wife died a 
few days previously, leaving a family of seven children, the oldest of 
which was not quite eleven years of age. This doubtless led him to seek 
safety for them in the house of refuge. A letter from Nathaniel Salton- 
stall, to Major Pike, of Newbury, dated "June 15, 1691, 12 at night," 
states, that Eobie was killed about two hours before sunset, " near the 
woods near Bradley's." 

At the same attack, Nathaniel Ladd was rfiot, and soon after died of 
his wounds. 

No further damage was done by the Indians in the vicinity ■= until Octo- 
ber, when, says Hutchinson, "a family was killed at llowley and one at 
Haverhill.f Perhaps he had reference to the above persons ; if not, the 

« On the 28th of September, seven pprsons were killed and captured at Berwick ; and on the following 
day, between twenty and thirty at Sandy Beach. 

t Vol. 1, p. 3>9. We.fiud, however, that the History of Rowley places it one year later — 1692. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 161 

name of that family must remain in obscurity, for there is no account of 
the death of any other person, this year, by the Indians. The family 
killed at Eowley was named Goodrich. 

The constant state of anxiety and fear in which the colonists were kept 
during these long and dreary months, and years, may be judged from the 
fact that in Newbury, which was far less exposed than either of the fron- 
tier towns, fifty-one persons hept watch each night. 

The new year brought no brighter prospects, but rather the reverse. 
On the 5th of February, a large body of French and Indians attacked 
York, Maine, burned all but three or four garrisoned houses, killed about 
seventy-five of its inhabitants, and captured eighty-five. The work of 
slaughter had re-commenced in fearful earnest. 

At the. annual meeting of 1692, but little was done except the election 
of ofl5.cers. A few applications were made for land, and Samuel Dalton 
asked permission to build a corn-mill on Mill Brook, but all were refused. 
The inhabitants were evidently so engrossed in the all important matter of 
personal security, that they had little courage left for extending their 
settlement. 

On the 18th of July, Hannah Whittiker, of this town, was killed by the 
Indians." The particulars of her death arc now lost. 

On the same day that Hannah Whittiker was killed, an attack was made 
on Lancaster, Mass., and six persons were killed^ August 1st, the same 
n amber were killed at Billerica; and September 29th, twenty-one were 
killed and captured at Eye Beach. 

Sometime in August, John Keezar took his scythe and his gun, and 
went to the Pond Meadow to cut grass. He laid his gun down beside a 
tree, and while mowing, a short distance from it, an Indian, who had 
secretly observed his motions, crept silently along, and secured the gun 
before Keezar was aware of it. The Indian then brought it to his shoul- 
der, and exultingly exclaimed — "me kill you now." Keezar saw that 
an attempt to fly would be attended with certain death, and his only re- 
course was to stratagem. Soon as he saw that the Indian had secured his 
gun, he faced about and ran toward him, shouting at the top of his voice, 
swinging his glittering scythe, and threatening to cut him in pieces. This 
daring conduct, in one whom the Indian expected would fly, or beg for his 
life, his terrible threatenings, and the formidable appearance of his wea- 
pon, completely affrighted him ; and he threw down his stolen gun, and 

« Hannah WhittLker was the wife of Abraham Whittiker, Jiin, Her maiden name was " Beame." She 
was married April, 1682. 

21 



162 niSTORY OP HAVERniLL. 

fled for his life. Keezar followed close upon bis heels, repeatedly striking 
at him with his scythe. At length he reached him, and at one stroke, 
buried it in his bowels.'' 

The enemy were all around them, continually watching for opportuni- 
ties to make a successful attack, and the situation of the inhabitants of 
this town was perilous in the extreme. None knew when or where the 
blow would fall, but it was daily and hourly expected. In answer to a 
call for aid, Sir William Phipps ordered twelve soldiers to be sent from 
Newbury to Haverhill, November 1st, to assist in protecting the town. 
Happily no other assault was made that season. 

With the return of another winter, came the necessity of again consid- 
ering the matter of Mr. Eolfc's settlement as minister, and a meeting was 
called for that purpose. At this meeting, the question, "whether Mr. 
Benj Eolfe, whom this town hath had experience of in the ministry near 
three years, shall be the man pitched upon for that work, and to be our 
settled minister in Haverhill," was " by a full vote," passed in the affirm- 
ative, and a committee was chosen to agree with him. 

December 5 th, a meeting was called, to hear the report of the committee^ 
which was made in the form of a letter from Mr. Eolfe. The following is 
a copy : — 

" Haverhill Nov 21, 1692. 
To the Town of Haverhill, 

Gentlemen : 

The Committee chosen and appointed by you on Oct 25, 92, to treat 
with me in order to my settlement among you as your minister ; have beea 
with me and acquainted me as far as they could with the Town's mind in 
this affair, making some proposals which they thought might be agreea- 
ble to what you approve of : 

Upon which I make you this brief return — That it is not my design 
nor desire to propose for what may rationally be thought hard : But only 
that there may be such a competent, comfortable settlement, as that there- 
by I, or any that shall be called to be your minister, may be capable to 
endeavour the discharge of that duty that God requires of persons under 
such circumstances without distraction. 

The want of this will be uncomfortable to you and your minister : and. 
That in order hereto I presume that there is no rational man but will 
think it requisite, that, in such a place as this is, where there is no house for 
the ministry ; there be (in some convenient place) allotted to him a small 

• Tradition. — Mirick. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 163 

parcel of land, on "wliicli lie may at his own cost (with the help of such as 
shall freely offer thereto) erect an house to dwell in which he may call his 
own ; and 

Inasmuch as your Committee have proposed to me by order of the Town, 
what place in the Town would be most satisfactory to me to dwell in ; — 
I reply, that I think it beyond me to determine. The Town's pleasure in 
this matter will doubtless be for accommodation. 

But except the Town can think of a more convenient place, I know no 
objection against that place on which Nathaniel Smith did formerly dwell, 
or any near it. 

With respect to a settled yearly maintain, I object not against what the 
Town by their Committee have already settled on me : Provided, that in 
convenient season, when the work is doubled, *and the Town comes to be 
under better circumstances, there be such an addition to it, as shall ration- 
ably be thought requisite. 

Your speedy conclusion upon what hath been proposed will enable me 
to give you a more full answer : 

In the meantime I remain 

Yours in all christian ofl&ces 

Benjamin Piolfe." 

Upon the reading of Mr. Eolfe's letter, it was voted: — 

•' That Mr Benj Eolf, who hath, for about three years been an help here, 
in the work of the ministry with Mr Ward ; If he please to settle here in 
the ministerial work shall have, & hereby hath, that piece of land freely 
bestowed upon him as his own proper estate, which was laid out by the 
Town's committee June 24, 1681, and approved of, near where Nathaniel 
Smith formerly lived, and is also joining to that two acres which was given 
by the Town to Samuel Wilcot." 

The selectmen were, at the same time, directed to treat with the owners 
about buying Wilcot's two acres, to be added to the rest. 

Toward the last of the next month, (Jan. 30, 1693) another meeting 
was called, to see if the town would confirm its vote to settle Mr. Eolfe, as 
some objections had been made to that meeting, "because of the shortness 
ofwiirning." The town declared that, " by a clear vote, it is renewed, 
allowed of, confirmed, made, and to be stood unto, for the full and free 
vote of the Inhabitants of Haverhill." There could be no mistaking their 
intentions this time, most certainly. 

Mr. Eolfe was granted the free and full improvement of the Parsonage 
farm and meadow, then on lease to Mr. Bradley, so long as he continued 
in the town as their minister, and also of the Parsonage land bought of 



164 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

William Starlin, besides -what was otherwise appointed him for his 
annual salary. It was also voted to lay him out, with all convenient 
speed, ten acres of good meadow, for his free use while he remained their 
minister. 

AVe have already alluded to the charter received in 1G92. It was a far 
different instrument from the colonial charter of 1G29, and effected a 
thorough revolution in the country. The form of government, the powers 
of the people, and the entire foundation and olbjects of the body politic, 
were placed upon a new basis. ' 

Sir William Phipps, the first governor of the province under the new 
charter, arrived at Boston on the 14th of May, 1692. Writs were imme- 
diately issued for a general assembly, which convened in the following 
month, and the government jvas duly inaugurated. 

These changes in the government of the province, necessitated corres- 
ponding changes in the organization of towns, and, accordingly, at the 
next annual meeting of this town, several new officers were chosen, and 
the name of the town Eecorder was changed to Toicii Clerh. 

The following is a list of the first board of town officers under the new 
charter : — 

Lt John Johnson, Moderator ; Nathl Saltonstall, Town Clerk ; Ensign 
Thomas Eatton, Cornet Peter Ayer, Sergt Kobert Ayer, Sergt John Page, 
Nathl Saltonstall, Selectmen; Eobert Swan sen., Samuel Cun-ier, James- 
Sanders, Ensign John White, & Sergt Josiah Gage, Highway Surveyors ; 
Michael Emerson, Leather Sealer; Ensign Thomas Eatton, Sealer of 
Weights Sf Measures ; Sergt Josiah Gage, Lieut Saml Ayer, Sergt John 
Haseltine, Capt Geo Browne, Wm Starlin, & Joseph Johnson sen, Tyth- 
ing-men ; for Viewers of Fences, for the West side of the Sawmill Eiver, 
Ensign Saml Hutchins, Onesiph Mash sen ; — between the West bridge 
and Mill brook and northward as far as Ephraim Gild's, John Johnson 
Saml Emerson ; — between the Mill brook and Great Plain, Eph Eoberts, 
Israel Hendrick; — for the Great Plain and fields below that, to the ex- 
tent of Haverhill bounds, on that quarter to the eastward, Amos Singletery, . 
John Whittier ; — for the northern farms about Wm Starlin's, and in that 
quarter, Joseph Johnson sen, Christopher Bartlett; Steven Dow sen. 
Grand Juror ; Daniel Lad jun, for Jury of Trials. 

At this meeting, Joseph Peasely was granted the privilege of erecting a 
sawmill " at the head of east meadow river upon the stream by or near 
Brandy Brow." The location selected was the one still occupied, and 
known as " Peaslee's Mills." It is now, and wc believe has most of the 
time, since 1G93, been owned by persons of that name. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 165 

We notice that more Ibusiness relating to lands, and similar matters, was 
done by the town this year, than for several years previously, which indi- 
cates a returning confidence, and prosperity. No allusions are made to 
the Indians in the records, and we do not find any mention of persons 
being killed by them, this year, in the vicinity, except Jonathan Franklin 
in this town, and one person in Dover. 

May 8th, a town meeting was called, "for the people to join with the 
church and take care for the providing necessaries for Mr Eolf 's ordina- 
tion in office in this town." After choosing a Moderator, " the Town 
resolved to stop in the proceedings till they knew what Mr Ward would 
abate of his yearly maintanance." The following proposal from him, 
dated November 13, 1692, was then read: — 

" In answer to the Town's proposal to me to know what I would abate 
of my yearly maintenance, and upon what terms they should be with me 
in case they got another minister to help with me in the ministry, I grant 

In case the Church and Town do procure another Minister to be settled 
in office in the work of the ministry in Haverhill ; Then from that time 
and forward I will abate to the Town of what they ought to pay to me by 
Covenant and Town orders, all, excepting only Twenty pounds in Corn, 
and Fifty cords of current merchantable cord wood, to be paid as follow- 
eth, annually, during my life ; viz. 

Ten pounds in merchantable Wheat, and 
Ten pounds in merchantable Indian, and 
Fifty cords of Oak and Walnut wood, to be laid in at my house, and corded 
by one thereto appointed at the Town's charges ; for time as followeth, 
viz : 

Half in October, annually ; and the other Half in February annually. 

Provided that all arrears be truly paid me, and that myself and estate 
I be exempted from all rates ; and that the Town do appoint one or two 
men to attend at my house upon a set day to receive and take account of 
what shall be brought in, and set the price thereof if it be not merchant- 
able, that so it come not in pitiful driblets as formerly. 

And in case the conditions be not performed within the year, by the 2d 
of February annually ; then the whole Sixty pounds to be paid annually, 
according to town orders already made, and so proportionably. 

John Ward." 

After this letter was read, the meeting chose a committee of four, " to 
go and see what Mr Ward will abate of his annual covenanted mainte- 



166 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

nance, in order to tlie settlement of Mr B Kolf for a minister here." The 
following is their report : — 

"The messengers, by word of mouth, return Mr Ward's answer: That 
from and after Mr liolf 's ordination, he will abate all except Twenty 
Pounds in Wheat & Indian annually, & Fifty cords of merchantable 
sound wood corded at his house." 

The town accepted the offer. A vote was then passed that *' care shall 
at the Town's charge be taken for a place and provision for entertainment 
at Mr Ilolf 's ordination," provided it did not exceed ten pounds ; but as 
" several men proclaimed against it with great violence," the vote was 
nulled. 

The following agreement of the committee with Mr. Eolfe, was then ap- 
proved and confirmed : — , 

" We,'"' Eobert Ayer, Peter Ayer, and Steven Dow, who are the present 
Committee in that affair have covenanted and agreed with said Mr Ilolf; 
and do hereby covenant & agree, and promise to & with the said Eolf and 
his heirs and assigns, as the said Committee men, and on behalf of the said 
Town by virtue of their orders and acts, and because one vote may take off 
a preceding one by the unsteadiness of a multitude : That Mr Eolf may 
not be disappointed. We not only for the Town in general, but for our- 
selves in particular, as the said Town's Committee, and for our successors, 
do covenant and agree as followeth : 

1. That Mr Benjamin Eolf during the time of his abode in this Town 
in the work of the ministry, until he is settled with us in oflSce in that 
work, shall have paid unto him by the Town Sixty pounds per annum in 
Wheat, Eye, and Indian Corn, by equal proportions of each, at the price 
of the grain in the Country rate, at the time of payment. So that the 
whole may be paid into him, or his order in Haverhill, by the 2d of Feb- 
ruary annually. 

2. That Mr Eolf out of his Sixty pounds is to provide personal quar- 
ters for himself as he shall think good. 

3. We the Committee before mentioned do further promise to said Mr 
Eolf that upon the Town's charge, in convenient season annually, there 
shall be laid in for him a sufficient quantity and stock of good, sweet, and 
dry, and sound Hay for the keeping his horse through the winter at such 
place in Haverhill as he shall appoint." 

^ The introductorj' paragraph, which merely rehearses when and for what the committee were chosen, 
we have omitted, as unimportant. 



HISTORY OF nAVERHILL. 167 

The agreement is signed by the committee. The following is the letter 
of Mr. Eolfe, accepting the terms offered : — 

" Haverhill April 29, 1693. 

In answer to the Election of the Town of Haverhill signified by public 
vote at a general orderly meeting with respect to my being their settled 
minister, and to the call of the Church of Christ there ; 

The Providence of God having so ordered, as to move his people here to 
invite me to settle among them for the carrying on of the great and solemn 
work of the ministry of the gospel of Christ, 

I do hold it my duty to consider & take notice of the special Providence 
of God therein, and therefore do hereby express myself willing to settle 
among them for that end : viz : 

1st. So long as the people of God here do continue in the profession of 
the true faith and peace of the gospel — Acts 2'A2S' 

2d. So long as I may have the liberty of my ministry among them. . 

3d, So long as I can discharge my duty to myself and family, if it shall 
please God to give me one ; I mean by this. That the Town comply with 
and duly discharge for the present, that obligation with respect to a yearly 
maintenance that they by their Committee are now under to me. Grant- 
ing also to me a supply of wood as soon as I shall stand in need of it. 
And if it shall please God so to order it that the whole work be devolved 
upon me, or to bring them out of those difficulties that by occasion of the 
war they are now under : They grant to me such a supply as that thereby 
I may so live as a minister of the gospel ought to live, and be able without 
distraction by wants, to discharge my duty as a minister of Christ to God 
and yourselves. 

Thus I say I do express myself willing to settle among you with a true 
intention and true affection. 

Benjamin Piolfe." 

Having at last seen his successor selected, provided for, and firmly 
seated in the affections of the people with whom he had himself lived so 
long, and so happily, and for whose welfare he had devoted the best years of 
a long life, the venerable John Ward was soon laid beside 'her whom in life 
he had loved so well. He died on the 27th of December, 1693, and was 
buried on the following day, almost in the very shadow of the humble 
little church where, for nearly a half century, his voice had been heard 
from Sabbath to Sabbath earnestly pleading with the Father for bless- 

° "And they continued steadfastly in the Apostle's doctrine and fellowship, find in breaking of bread, 
and in prayers." — Acts 2, 42. 



168 niSTOUY OP HAVERHlLt. 

ings upon Lis little flock." Mr. Eolfe, on the day of his ordination, 
speaking of him, says, that "these four years past have been the happiest 
and most profitable to me of my whole life. I have had the couneils of 
wisdom and experience, the admonitions of a father and friend, and an ex- 
ample constantly before me, of undissembled virtue, ardent piety and 
burning zeal." 

The following is an extract from his will, which bears date May 27, 
IGSO.f 

" Lord, into thy hands commit I my spirit. Credo languida fide sed 
tamen fide. 

Concerning that portion of worldly goods which God of his rich bounty 
hath bestowed upon me, I make this my last will and testament. I give 
to my beloved son Benja. Woodbridge, and to my beloved daughter, Mary, 
his wife, one parccll of land containing thirty acres, more or less, lying 
att the norwest end of the towne of Haverhill, in X. England. '••= ••' =•■' '•' '•* 
1 give to my beloved son, Nathl. Saltonstall, and to my beloved daughter, 
Elizabeth, his wife, my house, and land adjoyning thereto, commonly 
called the houselott, lying in the town of Haverhill, | =■'••= =■•'' " '■' Lastly, I 
constitute and appoynt my beloved son, Saltonstall, the executor of this 
my last will and testament, and do hereby make void all former "Wills 
made by me. 

Witness my hand and seal 

JOHN WAED. [seal.] 

Signed and sealed in the presence of us ; 

William White, Thomas Eatox, Benja. Eolfe. 
Jan. 23, 92--3, owned before John White." 

]\Ir. Eolfe was ordained on the 7th of the January following Mr. Ward's 
death. 

At the annual meeting for 1694, the town refused to choose Tything- 
men, (and also a Hayward, Culler of Staves, Eield Drivers, and House 
Officers,) according to law ; but we find that a few weeks afterward, a 
town meeting was held " by the order of the ShcriiF," to choose a repre- 
sentative to the assembly, and tythingmen. The government seem to have 
allowed the omission of the others, but refused to entertain the idea that a 
town could get along without tythingmen. The duty of a tythingman was 

o On the 19th, of November, 1693, Mr. Ward, then just entering his eighty-eighth year, preached an ex- 
cellent sermon, — his last public effort. — Mather, 

"f Two months after the death of his wife. 

X This homestead, since known as the "Saltonstall Place," about half a mile east of the Bridge, re- 
mained in possession of the family until after the Revolution. It is now familiarly known as the ;' Widow 
Duncan's Place." 



HISTOKT OF HAVERHILL. 169 

to preserve good order in the church during divine service, and to mate 
complaint of any disorderly conduct. It is but recently that the office 
was abolished. The writer well remembers when " the tythiugman " 
served as an eflFectual " bugbear " for juvenile church-goers. 

This year, all the town officers were, for the first time, duly " sworn " 
to the faithful performance of their several official duties, — a practice 
which has since become a custom. 

July 2d, a meeting was called to see about the meadow land for the 
ministry, which had been laid out, but was claimed by Robert Swan, sen., 
who had prosecuted the town for taking it away from him. The town 
voted to fight it out with him, "according to law." 

On the 30th of July, a meeting was held, " by command of the 
CountiT," to choose assessors, and Captain Simon Wainwright, Ensign 
John White, and Cornet Peter Ayer were duly chosen and sworn. 

This was the first board of assessors chosen by the town. For a few 
years preceding this, a " commissioner" had been annually chosen to act 
with the selectmen in taking valuations. 

After nearly two years of comparative freedom from molestation by the 
Indians, the inhabitants were again alarmed by news of horrible massa- 
cres, and threatened extermination. 

On the 18th of July (1694) the settlement at Oyster Eiver was again 
attacked, and ninety-four of its inhabitants killed and captured. This 
sad news had hardly reached this town, when another messenger conveyed 
the intelligence of four more victims at Portsmouth ; and within a week 
later, Groton was surprised, twenty-two persons killed, and thirteen 
wounded. The enemy were all around them, and terror sat on every 
countenance. Three weeks later, five persons were killed at York, and 
the same week, eight more were added to the long list of victims from 
Kittery. 

September 4th, two men, Joseph Pike and Richard Long, both of New- 
bury, were slain by the savages as they were travelling, near the north of 
Pond Plain. " The enemy lay in a deserted house by the way, or in a 
clump of bushes, or both.""-' 

Although no other attack was made in this town that year, yet the in- 
habitants had every reason to expect them, and the strictest watch was 
kept, day and night, and every precaution taken to preserve life and pro- 

'■■ Pike's Journal. Neal, in h's History of Xfw England, says, under d;ite of Septpmlier 4, 169-t: — 
"Mr. Joseph Pike of Newbury, Deputy ShjrilTof Essex, tr.ivelling with one Lon^ betivoen Anieslmry 

and Haverhill in the exe(rutioti of his office, fell into an Ambuscade of the enemy, and both he and hi 

companion were murdered." 

22 



170 HISTORY OF HAYERHILL. 

perty, in case of such emergency. Under such circumstances, as we maj 
well suppose, there wei*e occasionally false alarms, when a whole garrison 
or neighborhood would be thrown into the greatest consternation and fear, 
without serious cause. One of the most ludicrous of these alarms, occur- 
red at the garrison commanded by Sergeant Nathaniel Haseltine,= - which 
is thus related by Mirick, from tradition : — 

" In the dead of night, when the moon shone fitfully through the ragged 
clouds, and the winds moaned solemnly on the wooded hills, the watch, 
the only person awake in the garrison, perceived something within the 
paling that surrounded it, which he supposed to be an Indian ; and who 
was, as *he thought, endeavoring to gain an entrance. Being considerably 
affrighted, he did not wait to consider the object coolly, but raised his 
musket and fired. The report alarmed the whole garrison. The women 
and children were awakened from their slumbers, and ran hither and 
thither like maniacs, expecting that they should fall beneath the tomahawk. 
The men, equally affrighted, jumped into their breeches as though their 
lives depended on their speed, seized their guns, and hastened to the port- 
holes. Every man now displayed his heroism. Volley after volley was 
fired at the suspicious looking object — but it fell not. There it remained, 
just as it did when the watch first observed it. This was truly a mystery, 
that had no whys nor wherefores. It is presumed a consultation was held 
at this important crisis ; but we have never been informed of the result. 
Let that be as it may, — they ceased firing, but continued under arms till 
morning, all prepared for immediate action, and keeping a good look-out 
for the supposed enemy. At length the morning began to dawn, and all 
eyes were turned toward the daring intruder. They soon discovered the 
cause of their alarm — and what do you suppose it was, reader ? Why, 
it was nothing but an old maid's black quilted petticoat, which she had 
washed the day previous, hung it on the clothes-line to dry, and neglected 
to take it in at night. When it was taken down, every part of it was 
pierced with bullet-holes, and, for aught we know, the poor old maid had 
no other to wear. It is thought that those excellent marksmen ought to 
have provided her with another — and doubtless they did." 

In 1695, the annual meeting was held on the first Tuesday in March, 
according to an Act of the Assembly. 

At this meeting, Peter Patie applied for permission to build a grist mill 
at east meadow river, but was denied. For some reasons, now unknown, 
there was great delay and difficulty in getting such a mill erected on that 
Btream. Many years previously, Andrew Greelee applied for, and received 

• Tbe one at Pecker's Hill. 



niStOtlT OF HAVERHILL. 171 

permission to erect such a mill there, and partly built a dam, but, for 
some reason, abandoned the enterprise, and nothing more was done about 
it for several years. In 1694, Nathaniel Whittier applied for the privi- 
lege, but he wanted twelve acres of land as a bonus, which the town 
thought too much. They offered him the use of four acres, which he re- 
fused, and the same offer being then opened to any one who would accept, 
Joseph Greelee and Joseph Peasely agreed to erect the mill ; but they also 
failed to doit, and, in 1696, the town gave Samuel Currier and Joseph 
Greelee permission to build, and allowed them the use of ten acres of land 
for their accommodation and encouragement. But it seems that they did 
not make much progress that year, for Peter Patie applied to the town the 
next spring for the same privilege. The town refused Patie, because they 
were already under obligations to Currier and Greelee, who, we believe, 
soon after erected such a mill. It was located at the place known for 
many years as Johnson's Mill, about one-fourth of a mile from the mouth 
of the stream. 

For the first time, the town this year chose a Town Treasurer. Lieu- 
tenant Samuel Ayer wasthe person selected. Mr. Rolfe applying for wood, 
the town voted him fifteen cords a year, for tliree years. John Gild 
offered the town sixteen pounds for " the side hill adjoining Great Pond," 
which offer was accepted. He was to pay " one third currant money, one 
third good Indian com, & one third good fat neat cattle fit for slaughter." 

The matter of bounds between this town and Amesbury came before 
the town again this year, after a quiet rest for many years. This time, as 
before, Amesbury commenced the agitation. The town ordered the select- 
men to see that the matter was settled forthwith. They evidently had no 
desire for an extended controversy. 

The selectmen were also ordered to attend to the settling of " schools of 
learning" in town, and "to settle a suitable school-master, according to 
law." 

Among the records of this year, we find a copy of a receipt from the 
State Treasurer, for " eight wolves heads at six shillings eight pence, in 
full for thirty thousand pounds assessment." Something of a discount, 
we think. 

At an adjournment of the annual meeting, the same year, it was ordered 
that the meeting-house " be forthwith repaired so far as is necessary for 
our present use of the place ; till we may be better fitted and provided 
with a new one." Immediately upon this vote being declared, the ques- 
tion was put '■■ whether, when the Town builds a new Meeting house, it 
shall be set in the same place where the old house stands." This was, by 



172 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

a full vote, decided in the negative. It was then proposed, " whether the 
next meeting house for this Town, when built, shall be set upon the Com- 
mon land near John Keyzar's & Lieut Johnson's new dwelling places." 
This was decided "plentifully in the affirmative," only Captain Browne, 
John ^Vhitticr, and Samuel Currier dissenting. It was then voted " that 
a new meeting house shall be built forthwith, with what speed may be," 
and a committee was chosen to " treat with men abroad " about doing the 
work, and report their proposals to the town. 

The next we hear of the matter, is in May of the next year, when a 
meeting was called to see whether the town would build a new meeting- 
house, or repair the old one. 

They voted to build a new one, and chose a committee " to look out a 
workman that can & will engage to do the work by the lump, or great, for 
money." They were " to look out & view some meeting houses for dimen- 
sions," and then propose the work to some person or persons, either at 
home or abroad- 

On the 28th of July, the committee reported that tbey had " been abroad 
at several towns, taking dimensions of several meeting houses, and having 
an account of the cost of them," and " after bartering with divers work- 
man," found Sergeant John Haseltine " the most inclinable to build of 
any one." Haseltine offered to build a meeting-house fifty feet long, forty-' 
two feet wide, and eighteen feet stud, "finishing the same within 
& without, with seats, pulpit, galleries, windows, doors, floors, & stairs," 
after the pattern of the Beverly meeting-house, and doing the sides after 
the style of the Reading meeting-house, finding all material, for four hun- 
dred pounds, money. After a long debate about the place for the house 
to stand, and the price proposed, the dimensions proposed were accepted, 
and the meeting closed without further action. 

Nothing more was done about the matter until April 10, 1697, when 
another meeting was called for that special purpose. This time, the town 
voted that " there be a meeting house forthwith framed," and chose a 
committee to agree with Sergeant John Haseltine, or any other man, about 
the work. They were to agree for the whole work and material, even " to 
turning of the key," and were limited to four hundred pounds in money. 
The house was to have " a Turret for a bell," and it was agreed to set it 
" at the place by Lieut John White's and Mr Samuel Dalton's." 

But the end was not yet. In June, another meeting was called 
to consider the committee's report. After " much discourse and difference 
about the place where the new meeting house should be erected," it was 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 173 

voted to call another meeting of the town before deciding the matter. 
Accordingly, on the 5th of July, the inhabitants again assembled, to con- 
sider the vexed question. Upon the question of location for the new 
meeting house, " paper votes were called for," and with the following 
result- : — 

" For the old place that now is 25f 

For the common land near Keyzar's 53." 

Paper votes were then called for, in choosing a new committee to go on 
with the work, and Captain Samuel Ayer, Corporal Peter Ayer, and En- 
sign John Page, were declared chosen. The committee were then granted 
full powers, within the previously mentioned limits, as to cost. ■ • 

So strong, however, appears to have been the opposition to the new loca- 
tion, that the matter of building progressed very slowl}', and one year 
after the above meeting, (July 4, 1698,) another was called " by warrant 
from a Justice of the Peace," on petition oT eight of the inhabitants, who 
desired that a committee might be chosen " to hear all pleas on both sides, 
and determine where the new frame should be raised." In this request, 
thirty-three more joined. The Moderator then called for the names of 
those opposed to having such a commitee, "which was drawn and brought 
in," and, being counted, numbered sixty-three names ; upon which he de- 
clared against having any such committee, and the meeting dissolved. 

Summer passed, autumn came and went, and when winter again ap- 
proached, the work on the new meeting house had progressed so far that it 
was, by many, thought advisable to meet in it for worship. 

A meeting was therefore called by the selectmen, to consider *' whether 
the people should meet this winter at the old meeting house, or at that 
which is of new erected at Widow Keyzar's." " Votes were called for by 
personal appearance and entering their names," and " thirty four persons 
entered their names for their meeting at the new house as soon as the glass 
windows are finished & set up," while eighteen persons voted for continu- 

'•'■ This was probably very near the whole number of legal voters in town, as the business doubtless called 
out the full strength of the voters. 

t Nathl Saltonstallt John Currierf Jona'n Eattonf Tho Whittierf 

— , Peter Greenf Amos Singleteryt Joseph Greeleef John Eattonf 

Elisha Davist Samuel Currierf John Page Junf Benj Page 

Daniel Elat Joseph Peasly sent Robert Clement jun Ric Hazenf 

Jotham Hendrickt Joseph Whittiert Geo Brownet James Sanders seii 

Cornelius Page Ric Whittiert Ens Eattont Ahiel Mercert 

Those to whose names is annexed a (t) also entered their protest against the subsequent action of 
the meeting. 



174 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

ing in the old meeting-Louse, *' till a new meeting house be quite 
finished."-' 

It being thus decided to remove, the selectmen were chosen "to deter- 
mine the places, and what room shall be allowed to such as shall desire to 
have pews in the new meeting house ; and to whom it shall be allowed ; 
They being at the cost for the making of them for their own use as is 
usual in other places ; any other form for seats formerly thought of not- 
withstanding." 

The Eecorder informs us that •* much discourse was held about pulling 
up the seats in the old meeting house to set up at a new place for the pre-' 
sent meeting house ; but it was fully opposed, and reasons given, & 
therefore was not put to vote." 

This closed the proceedings of that meeting, and we find no I'eference to 
the subject again until the following October, (Oct. 24, 1699,) when a 
town meeting was called, " for the further consideration and settlement of 
the affairs belonging to the new meeting house." 

At this meeting, the committee last chosen reported that room had been 
allowed eight persons to make themselves pews in the new meeting-house 
at their own costf ; and after some "discourse about the new meeting 
house, and the receiving it for the end it was built for," a committee was 
chosen and sent forth to view it, and see if it was done according to agree- 
ment, and if the town should accept it or not. (It is worthy of remark 
that the chairman of the committee, Nathaniel Saltonstall, had all along 
opposed the location of the new house, and had voted against most or all 
of the propositions in favor of building it.) 

The committee attended to their duty, and submitted the following re- 
port to the same meeting : — 

"Haverhill Oct 2-1, 1699. 

We, the Committee above named, this day chosen, forthwith attended 
to the work we were appointed to examine, view, and pass our thoughts 

■^ Those who voted ajrainst the removal, were the same persons who previously voted against the pro- 
posed location of the new meetinn; house. The following persons voted for the change : — 

Ensign John Page Nalhl Hascltine Stoph Dow sen James Sanders 

Sergt John Ilaseltine John Simmons John Mash Wm Johnson 

Joseph Bond John Dow Joseph Page Benj Emerson 

Saml Ayi-r jun Ensign Samuel Hutchins Matt Ilcrriman sen Benj Uutchins 

Jos Johnson sen Jno Johnson smith Ephra'ni Gild Josiah Gage 

Jos Kingsberry Mich Emerson Onis: Marsh Eph Robcrds 

Daniel Ela James Ford Robt Ayer Jos Heath 

Tho Kingsbery Jos Emerson Joseph Ayer 

Jno Stevens sen Jona Emerson Sam: Smith 

t Capt. S. Wainwright, Capt. Samuel Ayer, Nath. Saltonstall, Scrjt. John Haseltine, Lieut. John 
White, Widow Hannah Ayer and son, Ens. John Page, Sergt. Josiah Gage. 



HISTORY OF HAVEBHILL. 175 

upon, and make our return to the Town in order to tteir further proceed. 
Do unanimously say 

We have viewed the house without and within, and have measured the 
house in its length, breadth, & height, and find them all to exceed the 
covenant dimensions : That is to say, in length upwards of 8 inches ; in 
the breadth also better than 8 inches ; and in the height of the stud be- 
tween sill and plate about 12 inches : and the outsides to be well fitted and 
comely ; and for the work within we find, and account it to be good, sub- 
stantially, well & commendably done, with respect to the walls, pulpit, 
and seats below and in the galleries ; and cannot but say, we like and well 
approve of the work ; and therefore we humbly propose to the Town now 
assembled to accept of the same as to the work and workmans part, in 
said Covenant, his additions being much for the better. And he having 
appeared to be honest, and honestly faithful to his word, we have taken 
his word for some small matters to be farther done to the seat or pew for 
the minister's wife & children, and to make troughs or gutters on the sides 
of the house at the eves to carry the water that comes ofi" the roof from 
the sides, so that it may fall at the corners : which said work tho necessary, 
is beyond what he was obliged unto by covenant. And we again do pray 
that the Town will accept of his work with thankfulness to him for his 
care & pains, & take care that the Town's part for payment be also faith- 
fully & seasonably performed. 

Witness, Nath. Saltonstall, 

Simon Wainwright, 
Lt John White, 
Capt John Whittier, 
Daniel Ela," 

Upon the reading of the above, " the Town by their unanimous vote, 
without any one voting to the contrary, granted their acceptance of the 
Committee's return, above written, and of the New meeting house accord- 
ing thereunto." 

It was then long debated.whether a committee should be chosen " to 
seat the people in the long seats in the new meeting house hefoi-e it shovld 
he met in," but being opposed, no vote was taken.--' 

The town then formally voted that the new meeting-house should be the 
place where the people should in future " meet and attend for the constant 
worship of God." 

" From this, it is evident that no meetings had as yet been held in the new house, notwithstanding the 
vote of the previous fall. 



176 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

Immediately upon^ this, " Joseph Peasely &c. moving that the Town 
•would allow him & others to meet at the new meeting house for, and in 
their way of worship : which is accounted to be for Quakers : It was read 
& refused to be voted upon." ' 

November 20th, a meeting was called to choose a committee "to place 
or seat the people in the new meeting house, that they may know where to 
sit, & not disorderly crowd upon one another, and be uncivil in the time 
of God's worship." 

Such a committee was accordingly chosen, and instructed how to proceed 
in assigning seats to the inhabitants. A committee was also chosen, to 
seat the first committee, " so that there may be no grumbling at them, for 
picking for, and placing themselves." The seating committee were subse- 
quently allowed six shillings each for performing that duty. 

Having at last, after years of eifort, and man}' warm discussions, pleas- 
antly and contentedly settled themselves in their new and commodious 
meeting-house, the town bid adieu to the old one in the following lan- 
guage : — 

"It is voted and granted that Capt Samuel Ayer, &. Nath: Saltonstall 
be, and are hereby empowered to the best advantage they can to dispose 
of our old meeting house, for the public benefit of the said Town, for the 
use of a school house, or a watch-house, or a house of shelter or shed to set 
horses in, for all or any one, or more of them as they can meet with chap- 
men." 

This is the last we hear of the old meeting-house, where, for half a cen- 
tury, the good people of the town had regularly assembled from week to 
week, for divine worship ; and around which, it would seem, some of their 
most pleasant and cherished thoughts and recollections must have clustered. 
" A shed to set horses in ! " Sad, indeed, was the fate of the little pio- 
neer meeting-house of Pentucket. 

A view of the second meeting-house, taken after a steeple had been 
added, was, many years afterward, painted on a panel over the mantle- 
piece in the front room of the " Harrod House," which stood a little north of 
the present Town Hall. In order to preserve the painting, the panel was sub- 
sequently cut out, and has been carefully preserved in the family to this 
time. It is now in the possession of Charles H. Stebbins, Esq., of Staten 
Island, (a grandson of Mr. Harrod,) who kindly furnished the drawing 
from which our engraving is executed. The painting must have been made 

" Joseph Peaslcc (or Peasely) was the son of Joseph, an emisrant settler, who was mado a freeman in 
1642 ; settled in Newbury ; went to Haverhill previous to 1616 ; thence to Salisbury, (now Amesbury) 
where he died December 3, 1660. 



mstOHY OF HAVERHILL. 177 

behteen 1750 and 176G. The building near the meeting-hotise, was 
probably the one erected in 1723, for the double purpose of a watch- 
house and a school-house. 




The Puritan Sabbath in the villages of N«w England commenced on 
Saturday afternoon. No labor was performed on the evening which prece- 
ded the Lord's day. Early on Sunday morning the blowing of a horn in 
some places announced that the hour of worship was at hand. In other 
villages, a flag was hung out of the rude building occupied by the church. 
At Cambridge, a drum was beat in military style ; at Salem, a bell indi- 
cated the opulence of that city. 

The public religious services usually commenced at nine in the mornings 
and occupied six to eight hours, divided by an intermission of one hour 
for dinner. The people collected (|uite punctually, as the law compelled 
their attendance, and there was a heavy fin« for any one that rode fast to 
meeting, The sexton called upon the minister and escorted him to church 
in the same fashion that the Sheriff now conducts the Judge into our State 
Courts. 

There were few pews in the churches, and the congregation had places as- 
signed them upon the rude benches, at the annual town meeting, according 
to their age, importance, and social standing, A person was fined if he 
occupied the seat of another. Our local histories reveal that pride, envy, 
and jealousy, were active passions among the men of olden times, and it 
was a delicate and difficult business to " seat the meeting-house," as it was 
quaintly called, 
23 



17S HISTORY OF nAVEEniLt, 

Many of the early churches of New England had two clergymen •■ — one, 
who was called the pastor; the other, the teacher. The congregation 
assembled at an early hour — never later than nine o'clock. After prayer, 
a chapter from the Bible was read by one of the ministers, and expounded 
at length. In many of the churches, however, the Bible was not read at 
all, and it took years of agitation to carry that innovation. A psalm in 
metre was next sung, which was dictated line by line to the congregation. 
This service was usually performed by one of the deacons. The preacher 
did not take part in the introductory services. 

The baptisms, cases of church discipline and collections, always took 
place in the afternoon. The " long " prayer usually occupied from an hour 
to an hour and a half, and many of the sermons of this period make from. 
a hundred to a hundred and fifty pages. There was a contribution every 
Sunday, preceded by an appeal from one of the deacons. The boxes were 
not carried around, but the congregation arose and proceeded t) the dea- 
con's seat, and deposited their offerings. The magistrates and "brief 
gentlemen " walked up first, the elders next, and then followed the •'com- 
mon people." 

Thfe trials of ecclesiastical offenders, at the close of the services, often 
afforded much excitement and amusement ; for some offences a particular 
dress was worn, and the " confession" of the offender was listened to with 
much interest. Oftentimes the public services were continued until after 
sunset. After the benediction, the ministers passed out of the church, 
bowing to people on both sides of the aisle, as they all sat in silence until 
the clergymen and their families had gone out. Few persons, we imagine, 
would be willing to go back to these Sunday ceremonies of the Puritau 
Sabbath, 



HISTOKT OF HAYERHILIu 179 



CHAPTER XIIL 



1695 TO 1700. 



In the latter part of the preceding chapter, we omitted matters of the 
gravest importance, in order to give a connected account of the locating 
and building of the second meeting-house in the town ; and we therefore 
return to the record of 1695, to complete our history of events, during the 
period mentioned. 

The tomahawk and the scalping knife were not yet laid aside, and the 
frontier towns continued to be laid under tribute for victims to satiate 
savage vengeance. 

The first appearance of the In-dians this season, (1695) was at Exeter, 
where two persons were killed, July 7. The next was at Billerica, August 
5, when ten were killed and five carried away captive. About the same 
'time, two persons were wounded in this town,'-- and two boys were caj^- 
tured. The following account of the latter, we copy from Miric/c : — 

" Early in the fall, a party of Indians appeared in the northerly part 
of the town, where they surprised and made prisoners of Isaac Bradley, 
aged fifteen, and Joseph AYhittaker, aged eleven, who were at work in the 
open fields near Joseph Bradley's house.f The Indians instantly retreated 
with their prisoners, without committing any further violence, and pui'sued 
their journe}^ through the wilderness until they arrived at their homes, on 
the shores of the Winnipisoge. Isaac, says tradition, was rather small in 
stature, but full of vigor, and very active ; and he certainly possessed 
more shrewdness than most of the boys of that age. But Joseph was a 
large, overgrown boy, and exceedingly clumsy in his movements. 

" Immediately after their arrival at the Lake, the two boys were placed 
in an Indian family, consisting of the man, his squaw, and two or three 
children. "While they were in this situation, they soon became so well 

• Belknap. The persons here alluded to were, without doubt, two children of Abraham Whittaker, 
as may be seen from the following extract from the record of March 6, 170j : — 

"At the motion of Capt. Saml Aycr, voted that the present selectmen on tho Town's cost pay 
Doctr Bradstreet for what he did for Abraham Whittaker's children towards their cure; and also to 
pay John Stephens son. for digijiag a grave for some of the said Whittaker's family, which were killed by 
the Indians." 

The digging of the gi-ave was probably for Whittaker's wife, Hannah, who was killed by the Indians 
July 18, 1692. 

t Bradley lived off the Parsonaj^e Koad, near the northerly brook. Whittaker lived nearly due west 
from Bradley's, on the Derry Road, but was at the time with Isaac Bradley, at the place above mentioned. 



180 HISTORY or IIATERHILr>. 

acquainted with the language, that they learned from the occasional con- 
versations carried on in their presence, between their master and the 
neighboring Indians of the same tribe, that they intended to carry them 
to Canada, the following spring. This discovery was very afflicting to 
them. If their designs were carried into execution, they knew that there 
would be but little chance for them to escape ; and from that time the 
active mind of Isaac was continually planning a mode to effect it. A 
deep and unbroken wilderness, pathless mountains, and swollen and almost 
impassable rivers, lay between them and their beloved homes ; and the 
boys feared, if they were carried still further northward, that they should 
never again hear the kind voice of a father, or feel the fervent kiss of an 
affectionate mother, or the fond embrace of a beloved sister. They feared, 
should they die in a strange land, that there would be none to close their 
eyes — none to shed for them the tear of affection — none to place the 
gi-een turf on their graves — and none who would fondly treasure up their 
memories. 

Such were the melancholy thoughts of the young boys, and they deter- 
mined to escape before their masters started with them for Canada. The 
winter came with its snow and wind — the spring succeeded, with its early 
buds and flowers, and its pleasant south wind — and still they were pris- 
oners. Within that period, Isaac was brought nigh to the grave — a 
burning fever had raged in his veins, and for many days he languished on 
a bed of sickness ; but by the care of the squaw, his mistress, who treated 
them both with considerable kindness, he recovered. Again he felt a 
strong desire to escape, which increased with his strength ; and in April 
he matured a plan for that purpose. He appointed a night to put it in 
execution, without informing his companion, till the day previous, when 
he told him of his intentions. Joseph wished to accompany him ; to this 
Isaac demurred, and said to him, "I'm afraid you won't wake." Joseph 
promised that he would, and at night they laid down in their master's 
wigwam, in the midst of his family. Joseph soon fell asleep, and began 
to snore lustily ; but there was no sleep for Isaac — his strong desire to 
escape — the fear that he should not succeed in his attempt, and of the 
punishment that would doubtless be inflicted if he did not — and the dan- 
ger, hunger and fatigue that awaited him, all were vividly painted in his 
imagination, and kept sleep or even drowsiness far from him. His daring 
attempt was euvii'oned with darkness and danger — he often revolved it 
in his mind, yet his resolution remained unshaken. At length the mid- 
night came, and its holy stillness rested on the surrounding forest ; — it 
passed — and slowly and cautiously he arose. All was silent save the 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 181 

deep drawn breath of the savage sleepers. The voice of the wind was 
scarcely audible on the hills, and the moon, at times, would shine brightly 
through the scattered clouds, and silver the broad lake, as though the robe 
of an angel had fallen on its sleeping waters. 

Isaac stepped softly and tremblingly over the tawny bodies, lest they 
should awake and discover his design, and secured his master's fire-works, 
and a portion of his moose-meat and bread ; these he carried to a little 
distance from the wigwam, and concealed them in a clump of bushes. He 
then returned, and bending over Joseph, who had, all this time, been snor- 
ing in his sleep, carefully shook him. Joseph, more asleep than awake, 
turned partly over, and asked aloud, "what do you want?" This egre- 
gious blunder alarmed Isaac, and he instantly laid down in his proper 
place, and began to snore as loudly as any of them. Soon as his alarm 
had somewhat subsided, he again arose, and listened long for the heavy 
breath of the sleepers. He determined to fly from his master, before the 
morning dawned. Perceiving that they all slept, he resolved to make his 
escape, without again attempting to awake Joseph, lest, by his thoughtless- 
ness, he should again put him in jeopardy. He then arose and stepped 
softly out of the wigwam, and walked slowly and cautiously from it. until 
he had nearly reached the place where his provisions were concealed, when 
he heard footsteps approaching hastily behind him. With a beating heart 
he looked backward, and saw Joseph, who had aroused himself, and find- 
ing that his companion had gone, concluded to follow. They then secured 
the fire-works and provisions, and without chart or compass, struck into 
the woods in a southerly direction, aiming for the distant settlement of 
Haverhill. The}'' ran at the top of their speed until day-light appeared, 
when they concealed themselves in a hollow log, deeming it too dangerous 
to continue their journey in the day time. 

Their master, when he awoke in the morning, was astonished to find his 
prisoners had escaped, and immediately collected a small party with their 
dogs, and pursued them. The dogs struck upon the tracks, and in a short 
time came up to the log where the boys were concealed, when they made a 
stand, and began a loud barking. The boys trembled with fear lest they 
should be re-captured, and perhaps fall beneath the tomahawk of their 
enraged master. In this situation, they hardly knew what was best to do 
— but they spoke kindly to the dogs, who knew their voices, ceased bark- 
ing, and wagged their tails with delight. They then threw before them 
all the moose-meat they had taken from the wigwam, which the dogs in- 
stantly seized, and began to devour it as though they highly relished so 
choice a breakfast. While they were thus employed, the Indians made 



182 niSTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

tlicir appearance, and passed close to the log in which they were concealed, 
without noticing the craploj^mcnt of their dogs. The hoys saw them as 
they passed, and were nearly bi'eathless with anxiety. They followed 
them with their eyes till they were out of sight, and hope again took pos- 
session of their bosoms. The dogs soon devoured their meat, and trotted 
after their masters. 

They lay in the log during the day, and at night pursued their journey, 
taking a different route from the one travelled by the Indians. They 
made only one or two meals on their bread, and after that was gone they were 
obliged to subsist on roots and buds. On the second day they concealed 
themselves, but travelled the third night and day without resting ; and on 
that day, towards night, they luckily killed a pigeon and a turtle, a part 
of which they ate raw, not daring to build a fire, lest they should be dis- 
covei'cd. The fragments of their unsavory meal they carried with them, 
and ate of them as their hunger required, making their dessert on such 
roots as they happened to find. They continued their journey night and 
day as fast as their wearied and mangled legs would carry them. On the 
sixth day, they struck into an Indian path and followed it till night, when 
they suddenly came within sight of an Indian encampment, saw their sav- 
age enemy seated around the fire, and distinctly heard their voices. This 
alarmed them exceedingly ; and wearied and exhausted as they were, 
they had rather seek an asylum in the wide forest, and die within the 
shadow of its trees, than trust to the kindness of foes whose bosoms had 
never been moved by its silent workings. They precipitately fled, fearing 
lest they should be discovered and pursued, and all night retraced their 
steps. The morning came and found them seated side by side on the bank 
of a small stream, their feet torn and covered with blood, and each of them 
weeping bitterly over his misfortunes. Thus far their hearts had been 
filled with courage, and their hopes grew, and were invigorated with the 
pleasant thoughts of home, as they flitted vividly across their minds. But 
now their courage had fled, and their hopes had given way to despair. 
They thought of the green fields in which they had so often played — of 
the tall trees whose branches had so often overshadowed them — and of the 
hearth around which they had delighted to gather with their brothers and 
sisters, on a winter's evening, and listen to a story told by their parents. 
They thought of these, yea, of more — but as things from which thc}^ were 
forever parted — as things that had once given them happiness, but had 
forever passed awa}''. 

They were, however, unwilling to give up all further exertions. The 
philosophy of Isaac taught him that the stream must eventually lead to a 



n'ISTOllY OJ lIAVEEHlLL. 18o 

large 'body of water, and after refreshing themselves with a few roots, they 
again commenced their journey, and followed its windings. They con« 
tinued to follow it during that day and a part of the night. On the eighth 
morning, Joseph found himself completely exhausted ; his limbs were weak 
and mangled, his body was emaciated, and despair was the mistress of his 
bosom. Isaac endeavored to encourage him to proceed ; he dug roots for 
him to eat, and brought water to quench his thirst - — but all was in vain. 
He laid himself down on the bank of the stream, in the shade of the bud- 
ding trees, to die, far from his friends, with none for companions but the 
howling beasts of the forest. Isaac left him to his fate, and with a bleed- 
ing heart, slowly and wearily pursued his journey. He had travelled but 
a short distance when he came to a newly raised building. Eejoiced at 
his good fortune, and believing that inhabitants were nigh, he immediately 
retraced his steps, and soon found Joseph in the same place and position 
in which he left him. He told him wliat he had seen, talked very encour- 
agingly, and after rubbing his limbs a long while, he succeeded in making 
him stand on his feet. They then started together, Isaac part of the time 
leading him by the hand, and part of the time carrying lnim on his back ; 
and in this manner, with their naked limbs mangled and wearied with 
travelling, their strength exhausted by sickness, and their bodies emaciated 
almost to skeletons, they arrived at Saco fort, sometime in the following- 
night. 

Thus, on the ninth night, they arrived among their countrymen, after 
travelling over an immense forest, subsisting on a little bread, on buds and 
berries, and on one raw turtle and a pigeon, and without seeing the face 
of a friend, or warming themselves over a fire. Isaac, soon as he had re- 
gained his strength, started for Haverhill, and arrived safely at his father's 
dwelling, who had heard nothing from him since he was taken, and ex- 
pected never to see him again. But Joseph had more to suffer — he was 
seized with a raging fever soon as he reached the fort, and was for a long 
time confined to his bed. His father, when Isaac returned, went to Saco, 
and brought home his long lost son, soon as his health permitted." 

On the 7th of October, of the same fall, one person was wounded, and 
nine taken captive, at Newbury. This was the last Indian depredation of 
that year, and for the next eight months the inhabitants of the vicinity 
suffered no molestation by them, although, with the opening of spring, 
they had every reason to fear fresh incursions. But the spring wore away, 
and summer came again, with no signs of the enemy. The settlers now 
began to hope that they would once more be permitted to rest in peace, 
and suffered their watchfulness and vigilance to relax. This was appa- 



184 UISTORY OP IIAVERIIlLt.. 

rently just what the cunning savages were waiting for, and well did they 
improve their opportunity. On the 2Gth of June, a large party fell upon 
Portsmouth, hilled twenty-four, wounded one, and captured four. A few 
days afterward, they assaulted Amesbury, killed three persons, burned 
three houses, and, with hellish barbarity, tortured to death Captain Sam- 
uel Foot. On the 2Gth of July, Dover was attacked, three persons killed, 
three wounded, and three taken captive, August loth, two men, ' — " Old 
John Hoyt," so called, and a young man named Peters, — both of Ames- 
bury, were killed by the Indians on the road between Haverhill and 
Andover. 

Two days afterward, Jonathan Haynes of this town, and his four chil- 
dren, Mary, Thomas, Jonathan, and Joseph, were captured.-' The children 
were in a field near Bradley's mills, picking beans, and the father was 
reaping near by. The Indians immediately started with their captives for 
Pennacook, (Concord, N. H.) When they arrived, they divided their 
prisoners, and separated, — one party taking the father and Joseph, and 
the other the remaining children. The first party started for their homes, 
in Maine, where they soon arrived. Their prisoners had remained with 
them but a short time, when they improved an opportunity to escape. 
After travelling two or three days, with scarce anything to satisfy their 
craving appetites, the old man sunk down exhausted. Finding his efforts 
to encourage his father were vain, the son started onward, and soon after 
coming to the top of a hill, he climbed a tall tree, to see if he could dis- 
cover any signs of civilization. But no such joyful sight was his. After 
the first bitter gush of grief had passed, and while he yet hesitated which 
course to take, his quick ear caught the sound of a sawmill ! He listened. 
There was no mistaking that familiar sound, and, with a glad heart and 
bounding step, he followed it, and soon found himself at the settlement of 
Saco I 

His story was soon told, and with ample assistance, and a bottle of milk, 
he hastened back to his father, whom he found as he had left him, — laid 
down to die, without the hope or expectation of ever again looking upon 
the face of a friend. The milk, and the good news, revived him, and, with 
considerable difiiculty, he reached Saco. Here they remained until their 
strength was sufi&ciently recruited, when they started for Haverhill, where 
they soon arrived without further difficulty. 

o Mirick is incorrect in giving the names of the children. The children of Jonathan and Sarah Haynes 
were Mary, born November 14, 1077; Thomas, born May 14, 1680; Jonathan, born September 3, 1684; 
Margaret, born March 3, 1687 ; Joseph, born August 4, 1C89 ; Ruth, born February 10, 1092 ; Elizabeth, 
boru March "2, 1097. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 185 

The party which took the other children, went to Canada, where they 
were sold to the French. 

As the tradition is, that Mary was carried to Canada on a hand-sled, 
we presume the Indians tarried at Pennacook until winter. Mary was re- 
deemed the following winter, with one hundred pounds of tobacco. She 
afterward married John Preston, of Andover, and moved to Connecticut. 
She was living in "Windham, (Conn.) October 12, 17C0, as appears by her 
signature to a deed of that date. The boys never returned. A deed of 
1731 speaks of them as still in Canada. In one of the companies in the 
Canada expedition of 1757, were three brothers named Haynes, from this 
town. "While in Canada, they had leave granted to make search for the 
captive brothers, and they found them. They had lost their mother lan- 
guage completely, and could only converse with their English relatives, 
through an interpreter. One of them enquired about his sister, who had 
one of her fingers accidentally cut off by a young lad, the son of a neigh- 
bor, a short time before her capture. He recollected the circumstance, 
and asked if she was still living. Neither of them could be persuaded to 
return with their relatives.-' 

Thus far, Haverhill had been spared the hoiTors of a general, or exten- 
sive attack. Its losses and sufferings had been principally from small 
parties of the enemy, who were continually prowling around the frontier, 
watching for opportunities to harrass, rob, murder, and capture the inhabi- 
tants. But its hour for severer trials was now near at hand. 

The 15th of March, 1697, witnessed one of the bloodiest forays of the 
whole war, and this town was the victim. On that day, a party of about 
twenty Indians came suddenly, and without warning, upon the western 
part of the town, and, with the swiftness of the whirlwind, made their 
attack, and as suddenly disappeared. 

The first house attacked was that of Thomas Duston.f Of this attack, 
and the heroic exploits of Duston and his wife, there have been various 
accounts published, and traditions handed down, which, though agi'eeing 

o We have these interesting traditionary incidents, from Guy C. Haynes, Esq., of East Boston, a native 
of Haverhill. 

t This name, at the present time, is written in various ways. It w:is originally written Durston, and 
was changed to Duston about the time of the above-named Thoinas Duston. This is shown, not only by 
our Town Records, but by Duston's petition to the General Court, in June, 1697. In the heading of his 
petition, (which is not in his own hand writing ) the name is written Durstan, and it is so written in 
the subsequent proceedings on the petition. But his signature to the petition is " Du(r)stan," (or perhajjs 
Du(r)stun). The letter "r " must have been interpolated subsequent to his first signing the petition, and 
we think it most probable that it was done by Duston himself, so as to make his signature agree with 
the name as given in the heading of the petition. We have adopted Duston in this work, because it is so 
written, in almost every instance, in our Town Records. 

24 



185 HISTORY or HAVERHILL. 

in the main, disagree somewhat in the detail. Of them all, we thint the 
account given by Ecv. Cotton Mather, in his Magnalia, is the most reliable. 
Mather heard the story directly from the lips of Mrs. Duston, when she 
was in Boston, (soon after her return from captivity,) and published it 
very soon after. The following is his version - : — 

" On March 15, 1697, the Salvages made a Descent upon the Skirts of 
Haverhil, Murdering and Captivng about Thirty-nine Persons, and Burn- 
ing about half a Dozen Houses, In this Broil, one Hannah Dustan hav- 
ing lain-in about a Weck.f attended with her Nurse, Mary Neff,\ a Widow, 
a Body of terrible Indians drew near unto the House where she lay, with 
Designs to carry on their Bloody Devastations. Her Husband hastened 
from his Employments abroad unto the relief of his Distressed Family ;§ 
and first bidding Seven \\ of his Eight Children (which were from T^vo to 
Seventeen years of age) to get away as fast as they could unto some Gar- 
rison in the Town, he went in to inform his Wife of the horrible Distress 
come upon them. E'er she could get up, the fierce Indians were got so 
near, that utterly despairing to do her any Service, he ran out after his 
Children ; resolving that on the Horse which he had with him, he would 
Ride away with that which he should in this Extremity find his Affections 
to pitch most upon, and leave the rest unto the Care of the Divine Px'ovi- 
dence. He overtook his Children about Forty Rod from his Door ; but 
then such was the Agony of his Parental Affections, that he found it im- 
possible for him to distinguish any one of them from the rest ; wherefore 
he took up a Courageous Resolution to Live & Die with them all.^ A party 

*» Wc copy directly from the first edition of the il/irfywaZia, published in London, 1702, — only five 
years subsequent to the exploits it describes. The notes are ours. 
t Her biibe was born March 9th, 1G96-7. 

I She was the daushter of George Corliss, .and married William Neff; her husband went after the 
army, and died at Pcmaquid, in February, 1C88. Nefl' lived on the farm now owned by William Swasey. 
It was given to Mrs. Ncff, by her father. 

§ " Her Husband was at work in the field, and seeinj the Enemy at a distance, ran home." — Keats 
Hist. JVew Eng., London, 17-17. 

II Their names were, Hannah, born August 22, 1078 ; Elizabeth, born May 7, 1C80 ; Thomas, born Jan- 
uary 5, 1683 ; Nathaniel, born May IG, IGSj ; Sarah, born July 4, 1688 ; Abigail, born October — , 1690 ; 
Jonathan, born January l.'j, 1691-i2; Timothy, born September 1-1,1694. Besides these, they had had 
JIary, born November 4, 1081; died October 18, 1096; John, born February 2, 1686; died January 28, 
1090; Mehitablc, (twin sister to Timothy,) died December 16, 1694; and Martha, (the babe killed,) born 
born March 15, 1096-7. They afterward had Lydia, born October 4, 1698. 

1[ The following beautiful lines, entitled The Fatheu's Choice, are from the pen of Mrs. 
Sarah J. Hale : — 



Kow fly, as flics the rushing wind- 
Urge, ur>.'e, thy ligging steed! 

The savage yell is fierce behind, 
And life is on thy speed. 

And from those dear ones make thy choice; 
The group he wildly eyed, 



When " fathci !" burst from every voice, 
And "child!" his heart replied. 

There's one that now can share his toil. 

And one he meant for fame. 
And one that wears her mother's smile, 

And GAS that bears her name. 



J 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 



187 



of Indians came up with him ; and now though they Fired at him, and he 
Fired at them," yet he Manfully kept at the Eeer of his Little Army of 
Unarmed Children, while they marched off with the Pace of a child of Five 
Years Old ; until, by the Singular Providence of God, he arrived safe with 
them all unto a Place of Safety about a Mile or two from his House.f 



And one will pnittle on his knee, 

Or slumber on his breast; 
And one whose joj's of infancy. 

Are still by smiles expressed. 

They feel no fear while he is near; 

He'll shield them from the foe; 
But oh! his ear must thrill to hear 

Their shriekings, should he go. 

In vain his quivering lips would speak. 
No words his thoughts allow ; 

There's burning tears ui)on his cheeks 
Death's marble on his brow. 

And twice he smote his clenched hand- 
Then bade hi'i children fly ! 

And turned, and ee'n that savage band 
Cowered at his wrathful eye. 

Swift as the lightning winged with death, 
Ifl.ished forth the quivering flame I 

Their lierccst warrior bows beneath 
The father's deadly aim. 

Ambition goads the conqueror on. 
Hate pointj the murderer's brand — ■ 

But love and duty, these alone 
Can nerve the good man'o hand. 



Not the wild erics, that vend the skies, 

His heart of purpose move; 
He saves h'S children, or he dies 

The sacrifice of love. 

The hero may resign the field. 

The coward raurd'rer flee ; 
He cannot fear, he will not yield. 

That strikes, sweet love for thee. 

They come, they come — ^he heeds no cry. 
Save the soft child-like wail, 

"0 father save!" "My children, fly!" 
Were mingled on the gale. 

And firmer still he drew his breath. 

And sterner fi.isird his eye. 
As fast he hurls the leaden death. 

Still shouting, "children fly !" 

No sliadow on his brow appeared, 
Nor tremor shook his frame, 

Sa\'e when at intervals he heard 
Some trembler lisp his name. 

In vain the foe, those fiends unchained, 

Like famished tigers chafe. 
The shultered roof is near'd, is gain'd 

All, all the dear one's safe! 



° " The Indians pursued him all the while, but he kept in the rear of his little Flock and -when any of 
them came within reach of his Gun, he presented it at them, which made them retreat." — ^'eal. 

"A small party of the Indians pursued Mr. Dustin, as he fled from the house, and sonn overtook him 
and his flying children. They did not, however, approach very near, for they saw his determination, and 
feared the vengeance of a father, — but skulked behind the trees and fences, and fired upon him and his 
little company. Mr. Dustin dismounted from his horse, placed himself in the rear of his children, and 
returned the fire of the enemy often and witli good success. In this manner he retreated for more 
than a mile, alternately encouraging his terrified charge, and loading and firing his gun until he lodged 
them safely in a forsaken house. The Indians, finding that they could not conquer h-m, reiurned to their 
■companions, expecting, no doubt, that they should there find victims, on which they might exercise their 
savage cruelty. 

It is truly astonishing that no one of that little company was killed or wounded. When we reflect upon 
the skill of the Indians as marksmen, upon their great superiority of strength, and the advantage they 
possessed in skulking behind every fence and tree, it cannot but be confessed that the arm of ihe -Vlmighty 
was outstretched for their preservation. Not a ball from the enemy took cfl'cct ; but, so surely, says tradi- 
tion, as Mr. Dustin raised his gun to his eye, so surely some one of the enemy would welter in his blood." 
—Mirick. 

"We feel confident that Neal is right, and that Duston did not fire Jiis gun. Had he done so, his pur- 
suers could and would have rushed upon him before he could possibly have re-loaded, and have made sure 
work of hira. But by making a barracade of his horse, and reserving his fire — bringing his trusty gun 
quickly to bear upon the blood-thirsty, but cowardly red devils, as any of them chanced to peep from 
behind a tree or wall — he took the most reasonable and effective method for keeping them at bay. 

t Precisely where, and what, tliis " place of safety " was, is a question of no small interest. Mirick 
says, that Duston ordered his children " to fly in an opposite direction from that in which the danger was 
approaching," and that he finally "lodged them safely in a forsaken house." The first appears reason- 
able, but not the last. A " forsaken house " would have afforded no safer shelter than his own roof, from 
which he had already fled. Again, the tradition seems always to have been that the place reached was a 
garrison, (Vide Mather, Neal, and others,} and this appears to harmonize with the fact that the garri- 



188 HISTORY OF irATERIIILt. 

But his bouse must in the meantime have more dicmal Tragedies acted at 
it. The -lVm^-sc trying to escape with the New-bom Infant, fell into the 
Hands of the Formidable Salvages ; and those furious Tawnies coming 
into the House, bid poor Dustan to rise immediately. Full of Astonish- 
ment she did so ; and sitting down in the Chimney with an heart full of 
most fearful Expectation, she saw the raging Dragons rifle all that they 
could carry away, and set the bouse on Fire. About Nineteen or Twenty 
Indians now led these away, with about half a Score other English Cap- 
tives ; but ere they had gone many Steps, they dash'd out the Brains of 
the Infant against a Tree-' ; and several of the other Captives, as they be- 
gan to Tii-e in their sad Journey, were soon sent unto their Long Home ; 
the Salvages would presently Bury their Hatchets in their Brains, and 
leave their Carcases on the Ground for Birds and Beasts to feed upon. 
However, Dustan (with her Nurse) notwithstanding her present Condition,! 
Travelled that Night about a Dozen Miles, and then kept up with their 
New Masters in a long Travel of an Hundred and Fifty Miles, more or 
less,J within a few Days Ensuing, without any sensible Damage in their 
Health, from the Hardships of their Travel, their Lodging, their Diet, 
and their many other Difficulties. These Two Poor Women were now in 
the hands of those whose Tender Mercies are Cruelties ; but the good God, 
who hath all Hearts in his own Hands, heard the sighs of these Prisoners^ 
and gave them to find unexpected Favor from the Master who laid claim 
nnto them. That Indian Family consisted of Twelve Persons ; Two Stout 

sons were expressly designed for, — were always considered, and were in reality, — places of safety. As 
the Indians must have attacked from the north, or west, Diiston would naturally flee toward the south, 
or cast, — in which direction were all the garri$o)is then in the town. And, whether he lived on the 
easterly or westerly side of Little River at the time, the nearest garrisons were those of Onisephorus Marsh, 
(about half-tvay up "Pecker's Hill,") and Jon-ithan Emerson, (on the west corner of Winter and 
Harrison Streets). To one of these, therefore, he must have directed his fliglrt. Among all the versions 
of tlic tradition which have reached us, we find but one which unequivocatly designates the place reached, 
and that one points to the garrison of Mr. Marsh. This tradition comes to us through Moses Merrill, 
Esq., (of which mure anon,) and we hivve no doubt of its truthfulness. 

° Mirick says, "We have been informed by a gentleman, that he heard his grandmother who lived to 
an advanced age, often relate this fact, and that she had frequently ate apples that grew on the same 
tree. We have also been informed by an aged female, that she had often heard her mother tell of eating 
of the fruit of the same tree." All the traditions which locate this tree at all, agree in locating it on the 
west side of Little River. 

t Mrs. Dustin was barely allowed time to dress herself, and was even compelled to start on the long 
journiy, at that inclement season, with but one shoe. 

X The home of the Indian who claimed Mrs Duston and Mrs. Xeff as his captives, was n small island 
nt the junction of the Contuocook and Merrimack rivers, a few miles above Concord, N. H. To this place 
they were taken. The island has long since been known an Dustin' s Island. The Northern Railroad 
now passes directly across it. We agree with the compiler of the excellent History of Concord, y. II., 
(Dr. Bouton,) th.it a monument to Mrs. Duston should be erected on the above island; — that being the 
scene of her remarkable exploit. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 189 

Men, Three "Women, and Seven Children ; and for the Shame of many an 
English Family, that has the Character of Prayerless upon it, 1 must now 
Publish what these poor Women assure me: 'Tis this, in Obedience to 
the instructions which the French have given them, they would have 
Prayers in their Family no less than Thrice every Day ; in the Morning, 
at Noon, and in the Evening ; nor would they ordinarily let their Chil- 
dren Eat or Sleep without first saying their Prayers. Indeed these Idolators 
were like the rest of their whiter Brethren Persecutors, and would not en- 
dure that these poor Women should retire to their English Prayers, if they 
could hinder them.-' Nevertheless, the poor Women had nothing but Fer- 
vant Prayers to make their Lives Comfortable or Tolerable ; and by being 
daily sent out upon Business, they had Opportunities together and asunder 
to do like another Hannah, in Pouring out their Souls before the Lord : 
Nor did their praying Friends among our selves forbear to Pour out Sup- 
lications for them. Now they could not observe it without some Wonder, 
that their Indian Master sometimes when he saw them dejected would say 
u.nto them, What need you Trouble your self^ If your God loill have 
you delivered, you shall he so ! And it seems our God would have it so 
to be. This Indian Family was now Travelling with these Two Captive 
AVomen (and an English Youth taken from Worcester a year and a half 
before,) unto a Eendezvouz of Salvages, which they call a Town, some- 
where beyond Penacook ;f and they still told these poor Women, that when 
they came to this Town they must be Stript, and Scourg'd and Piun the 
Gantlet through the whole Army of Indians. They said this was the Fash- 
ion when the Captives first came to a Town ; and they derided some of the 
Faint-hearted English, which they said, fainted and swoon'd away under 
the Torments of this Discipline. J But on April 30,§ while they were yet, 
it may be, about an Hundred and Fifty Miles from the Indian Town, a 
little before break of Day, when the whole Crew was in a Dead Sleep, 
(Reader, see if it prove not so !) one of these Women took up a Resolution 

° Their master, some years before, had lived in the family of Rev. Mr. Rowlandson, of Lancaster, and 
Ue told Mrs. Duston that " when he prayed the English way he thought that it was good, but now he 
found the French way better." — Sewell's Diary. 

t They had not yet started for the rendezvous, but the captives were informed that they would soon 
start. The place of destination was Canada, where the Indian expected to obtain from the French a 
handsome sum for his captives. 

I The jjauntlett consisted of two files of Indians, of both sexes, and of all ngcs, containing .all that could 
be mustered in the village ; and the unhappy prisoners were obliged to run between them, when they were 
scoffed at and beaten by each one as they passed, and were sometimes marks at which the younger 
Indians threw their hatchets. This cruel custom was often practised by many of the tribes, and not nufre- 
quently the poor prisoners sunk beneath it. 

§ This would make their stay at the island about five weeks, or a little more. 



190 msTORT or nAVERniLL. 

to imitate the Action of ./ae/upon Sisera,- and being where she had not 
her own Life secured by any Lmv unto her, she thought she was not foi-- 
biddcn by any Laiv to take away the Life of the Murderers, by whom her 
Chikl had been Butchered. She heartened the Nurse and the Youth to 
assist her in this Enterprise ; and all furnishing themselves with Hatchets 
for the purpose, they struck such home Blows upon the Heads of their 
Sleeping Oppressors, that ere they could any of them struggle into any 
effectual resistance, at the Feet of those poor Prisoners, theyhoiv^d, they fell, 
they lay doxon ; at their Feet, they bowed, they fell ; where they bowed, 
there they fell down Dead. Only one Squaw escaped sorely AVoundedf 
from them in the Dark ; and one Boy, whom they reserved asleep, intend- 
ing to bring him away with them, suddenly wak'd and Scuttled away from 
this Desolation.^ But cutting off the Scalps of these Ten Wretches, they 
came off,§ and received Fifty Pounds from the General' Assembly of the 

^ Mrs. Duston planned the mode of escape, and prevailed upon her nurse and the boy to join her. The 
Indians kept no watch — for the boy had lived with them so long thty coTisidcred him as one of their 
children, and they did not expect that the women, unadvised and unaided, would attempt to escape, 
when success, at the best, appeared so desperate. 

,0a the day previous, Mrs. Duston wished to learn on what part of the body the Indians struck their 
victims when they would despatch them suddenly, and how they took oft" a scalp. With this view she 
instructed the boy to make inquiries of one of the men. Accordingly, at a convenient opportunity, he 
asked one of them where he would strike a man, if he would kill him instantlv, .-md how to take oft' a 
scalp. The man laid his fmger on his temple — "strike 'em there," said he; and then instructed liim how 
to scalp. (1) The boy then communicated his information to Mrs Duston. 

(I) SewcU's Diary, and tradition. 

t She received seven hatchet wounds and was left for dead, but jumped up and ran into the thicket !— 
Vide deposition of Mrs. Sradley. 

X Mrs. Duston kilkd her master, and Samuel Lennardson despatched the very Indian who told him 
where to strike, and how to take oft' a scalp ! The deed was accomplished before the day began to break. 

§ After performing the bloody work, Mrs. Duston gathered up what little provisions there were in the 
wigwam, — taking the gun of her dead m.aster, and the tomahawk(l) with which she killed him — and, 
Bcuttlin^; all the canoes, e.xcept one, she embarked in that, with Mrs. Ncft', and Lennardson, on the waters 
of the Merrimack, to seek their way to Haverhill. They had not proceeded far, however, when Mrs. 
Duston, perceived that they had neglected to take the scalps, and fearing lest her neighbors — should she 
ever arrive at her home — would not credit her story, she hastened back with her companions to the scene 
of death, touk oft' the scaliis of the slain, and wrapped them in a piece of linen cloth (2) that was taken 
frotii her house at the time of her capture. With these bloody witnesses of their feat, they hastened again 
ou thtir downward course to Haverhill. 

"A long and weary journey was before them, but they commenced it with chcerfnl hearts, each alter- 
nately rowing and steering thrir little bark. Though they had escaped from the clutches of their unfeel- 
ing master, still they were surrounded with dangers. They were thiuly clad — the sky was still inclement 
— and they were liable to be recaptured by strolling bands of Indians, or by those who would undoubtedly 
pursue them so soon as the squaw and the boy had reported their departure, and the terrible vengeance 
they had taken ; and were they again made prisoners, they well knew that a speedy death would follow. 

(1) This was some years after lost in the woods, near Mr. Duston's. 

(2) This she afterward divided among her daughters, and a part of it is still preser\-cd by some of their 
descendants. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 191 

Province, as a Eecompence of their Action ; besides -whicli, they received 
many Presents of Congratulation from their more private friends ; but none 
gave 'em a greater Taste of Bounty than Colonel Nicholson, the Gover- 
nour of Maryland, who hearing of their Action, sent 'em a very generous 
token of his Favour." 

After recovering from the fatigues of the journey, Mrs. Duston and her 
two companions, accompanied by Mr. Duston, started for Boston, where 
they arrived on the 21st of April. They carried with them the gun - and 
tomahawk, and their ten scalps — witnesses that would not lie. Soon 
after their arrival, Duston presented the following petition to the General 
Assembly, then in session : — 

" To the Eight Honorable the Lieut Governor & the Great & General 
assembly of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay now convened in 
Boston 

The Humble Petition of Thomas Durstan of Haverhill Sheweth 

That the wife of ye petitioner (with one Mary Neff) hath in her 
Late captivity among the Barbarous Indians, been disposed & assisted by 
heaven to do an extraordinary action, in the just slaughter of so many of 

the Barbarians, as would by the law of the Province which a few 

months ago, have entitled the actors unto considerable recompense from the 
Publick. 

That the the of that good Law no claims to any such con- 
sideration from the publick, yet your petitioner humbly that the 

merit of the action still remains the same ; & it seems a matter of univer- 
sall desire thro the whole Province that it should not pass unrecompensed. 

And that your petioner having lost his estate in that calamity wherein 
his wife was carried into her captivity render him the fitter object for what 

This array of danger, however, did not appall them, for home was their beacon light, and the thoughts of 
their fire-sidcs, nerved their hearts. They continued to drop silently down the river, keeping a good look- 
out for strolling Indians; and in the night two of them only slept, while the third managed the boat. In 
this manner they pursued their journey, until they arrived safely, with their trophies, at their homes, 
totally unexpected by their mourning frieods, who supposed they had been butchered by their ruthless 
conquerors. It must truly have been an affecting meeting for Mrs. Duston, who supposed that nil she 
loved — all she held dear on earth — were laid in the silent tomb." — Mirick. 

'^ This gun continued in possession of the male line to the year 1859, when it was presented to the 
Biistin Monument Association of this town, by Mrs. Lucia H. Dustin, widow of Thomas Dustin, of 
Henniker, N. H. At a meeting of the Directors of the Association, held July 9th, 18o9, it was 

" Sesolved, That the Directors of the Dustin Monument Association accept with a lively sensibility the 
donation of the musket, as an interesting memorial of the perils and valor of the pioneer settlers of Haverhill. 

Resolved, That the thanks of the Association be presented to Mrs. Lucia H. Dustin, of Henniker, N. H., 
for the gift of this valued family relic. 

Hesolved, That the thanks of the Association be presented to Mr. George W. Chase for his disinte- 
rested efforts to procure the musket for the Association. 

Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to transmit copies of these votes to Mrs. Dustin, and to Mr. 
Chase." 



192 HISTORY OF HATERHILL. 

consideration the public Bounty shall judge proper for what hath heen 
herein done, of some consequence, not only unto the persons more imme- 
diately delivered, but also unto the Generall Interest 

Wherefore humbly Eequesting a favorable Eegard on this occasion 
Your Petitioner shall pray &;c 

ThomusDu(r)stun." 

The petition of Duston was read in the House of Eepresentativcs, June 
8th, when it was " voted that the above named Thomas Durstan in behalf 
of his wife shall be allowed & paid out of the publick Treasury Twenty 
five pounds ; & Mary Neff the sum of Twelve pounds Ten Shillings, and 
the young man (named Samuel Lenerson) concerned in the same action 
the like sum of Twelve pounds Ten Shillings." 

Hannah Duston was the daughter of Michael and Hannah (Webster) 
Emerson, and the eldest of fifteen children. She was born December 23, 
1657, and was married to Thomas Duston December 3d, 1677, by whom 
she had thirteen children." The time of her death, and also that of her 
husband, is uncertain. There is a tradition, entitled to credit, that Mrs. 
Duston survived her husband some years, and after his death went to re- 
side with her son, Jonathan, who lived on the south west part of the 
original Thomas Duston farm. This tradition is repeated to us by Moses 
Merrill, Esq., now above eighty years of age, and a man of unquestioned 
veracity, who received it, when quite a lad, from the lips of the mother of 
Joseph Ayer, then about ninety years of age. Mrs. Ayer must have been 
born about the year 1700. She spoke of the fact, (not tradition) that 
Mrs. Duston resided with her son, after her husband's death, and was 
buried from that son's house. His house stood about twenty feet north- 
west of the present foundation of the " Dustin Monument." Thomas 
Duston was living in March, 1729, and also his son, Thomas, Jr.f Mrs. 
Ayer must have been about thirty years of age when Duston himself died, 
and was certainly old enough to remember distinctly the circumstances 
she related to our informant. | 

The favorite saying of an esteemed friend, — that " the true heroes are 
not always those who receive the most applause," — seems to us to be 
especially applicable to the case of Thomas and Hannah Duston. In 
every version of the story which has met our eye, or ear, Thomas Duston 

" For their names, see note to a preceeding page. 

t Vide Proprietor's Records. Thomas, Sen., was moderator of most of their meetings from 1715, to 
Jamiary, 1721-2. 

J Mrs. Ayer was the wife of Peter Ayer. Ilcr maiden name was Lydia Pcrley. The date of her 
marriage is not given in the Town Records, ller first child was born October 26, 1721. The sixth, 
Joseph, was born iu 1737. 



HISTORY OF nAVERIIILL. 193 

has been made to occupy a subordinate position to tliat of bis wife. In- 
deed, in many cases, his name, and his heroic defence of his children, 
would seem to have been introduced merely to identify the wife and 
mother, and to add an accessory coloring to the picture of her exploit. 
But, when placed side bv side with his, the exploit of his wife, extraordi- 
nary as it certainly was, seems to us as the light of the moon to the brilliant 
rays of the sun. 

Hannah Duston, to escape from a cruel captivity, — not from death, not 
from violation even," — and to revenge the death of her child ; with tioo 
strong arms to assist her, courageously planned the destruction, and boldly 
attacked, twelve sleeping savages, seven of whom were children, and but 
two of whom were men. It was not with her a question of life and death, 
but of liberty, and revenge. 

Thomas Duston, with the question of life or death for himself, and a 
cruel captivity for his children, distinctly before him, heroically staked 
his life for his children / It was a " father's love " that nerved his arm, 
and not revenge. 

While, therefore, we would not, wittingly, detract one jot or tittle from 
the full credit due the mother, for her extraordinary feat, we claim for the 
pure and lofty heroism of the father, a larger share of the world's ap- 
plause than has as yet been awarded him. 

Dr. Dwight, in speaking of Thomas Duston, makes use of the following 
truthful language : — 

" A finer succession of scenes for the pencil was hardly ever presented 
to the eye, than is furnished by the efforts of this gallant man, with their 
interesting appendages. The artist must be destitute indeed of talents 
who could not engross evei-y heart, as well as every eye, by exhibitions of 
this husband and father, flying to rescue his w ife, her infant, and her 
nurse, from the approaching horde of savages ; attempting on hi^ horse to 
select from his flying family the child, which he was least able to spare, 
and unable to make the selection ; facing, in their rear, the horde of hell- 
hounds ; alternately, and sternly, retreating behind his inestimable charge, 
and fronting the enemy again ; receiving and returning their fire ; and 
presenting himself, equally, as a barrier against murderers, and a shelter 
to the flight of innocence and anguish. In the background of some or 
other of these pictures might be exhibited, with powerful impression, the 
kindled dwelling ; the sickly mother ; the terrified nurse, with the new 

'-• Tlie Imlians seldom killed, and never violated their female prisoners, when once captured. They were 
eitlier sold to the French, or kept for ransom. 

25 



194 HISTORT OF HAYERniLL. 

born infant in her arms ; and tlie furious natives, surrounding them, driv- 
ing them forTvard, and displaying the trophies of savage victory, and the 
insolence of savage triumph." 

We regret that we are unable to trace more fully the history of this 
heroic man/-' We cannot even say from "whence he came. The name first 
appears in our town records among those who built cottages between the 
years 16G9, and 1675; next we find it in a deed from Thomas Dus- 
ton to Peter Green, in 1675-6 ; then among the soldiers in King Phillip's 
War, (August, 1676) ; then in the list of cottages built between January, 
1675, and February, 1677; then the marriage of Thomas Duston and 
Hannah Emerson, in December, 1677 ; and then we find, among the names 
of those who built cottages between February, 1677, and January, 1679, 
that of " Thomas Duston 2d." The name is first found in the record of 
our town meetings, under date of June 13, 1682. 

We think it probable that Duston came from the vicinity of Dover, N.H., 
as we find the name of " Thotr^as JDurston " among the signers of a letter 
to the governor of Massachusetts, dated Northam, (Dover) March 4, 1640. 
They subscribe themselves, — "We, the inhabitants of Northam." We 
also find the name " Tho Dursto7i" among those admitted freemen at 
Kittery, in November, 1652. It is possible, but hardly probable, that the 
latter was the Thomas Duston of this town. If so, he must have been at 
least forty-six years of age at his marriage, — (after which he had a family 
of thirteen children, — the last born when the father was at least sixty- 
eight years of age,) — and at least one hundred years of age at his death. 
All this is possible, but, taken together, hardly probable. It is certain, 
however, that the Thomas Duston of Northam, and the Thomas Duston of 
1697, could not have been one and the same person. 

A comparison of dates and incidents in the meagre record before us, we 
think favor the supposition that the Thomas Duston of 1675, and the 
Thomas Duston 2d, of 1677, were father and son. The former may have 
been the Thomas Duston of 1640, and who removed to Haverhill between 
1669 and 1675, with his son, and cither died or removed from the town 
subsequent to 1677.f 

° The followiiiij is from Mirick . — *' Thomas Dustin was a man of considerable ingenui(y, and tradition 
says that he had a " vast deal of mother wit;" that he possessed unshaken courage and the purest and 
loftiest feelings of affection, cannot be doubted. It is said that he made his own almanacks, and further- 
more, that he always made them on rainy days. How true this is, we will not attempt to say. He had 
a grandson, Joshua, who was said to have been his counterpart. He once took it into his head to weave 
a bed-quilt, and succeeded in making an excellent one, consisting of as many colors as Joseph's coat. 
This curious relic is now preserved by his descendants." 

t Since writing the above, we have examined the recently published Geneolof/ical Dictionary of the 
early Settlers of New England, by James Savage, Uoston, 1860, where we find the following: 

" Pustin, (fr Duston, Jusiuh, of Reading 1047, had Josiah, born May 14, 1656, and perhaps others, an(^ 



HISTORY 05 HAYERUILL. 195 

As there is a wide difference of opinion as to the location of Thomas 
Duston's house, at the time his wife was taken by the Indians, it will 
doubtless be expected that reference, at least, will be made to the matter in 
these pages. 

In March, 1G75, Thomas Duston, of Haverhill, "in consideration upon 
exchange of laud," deeded to Peter Green, forty-five acres of upland, more 
or less, " with the house, orchard, and purtenances." The land was 
bounded on the east corner by a white oak, " and so bounded on hack*'' 
meadow highway." The northwest corner was bounded by " Spicket 
path."! This land was on the west side of Little Eiver, but the descrip- 
tion will not apply to any part of the " Thomas Duston farm," upon which 
the monument to Hannah Duston is now in course of erection. 

In August, 1697, (five months after Mrs. Duston's capture) William 
Starlin, of Haverhill, deeded to Thomas Duston, in consideration of one 
hundred pounds, "my Ten acres of land who I purchased of ye said 
Town," — lying at a place called ye fishing Eiver neer ye house of Mat- 
thew Herriman, the bounds thereof as it is entered in ye Townes booke of 
record, with all ye houses, housing, mills, Damms, streams of water fences 
oarchards Trees wood timber and all other rights," &c. ; — also, "my 
other Ten acres of Land adjoining to ye former which I had by grant from 
said Towne on condition that I and my heirs did build a Corne Mill which 
might be for ye use of sd Towne. "| (Starlin deeded it to Duston on the 
same condition. )§ This land was on the east side of Little Eiver, and a 
part of the "Duston Farm," near the northerly end of Primrose Street. 
It was the earliest deed to Duston of land on that side of the river. This, 
in our opinion, makes it certain that Duston did not reside on the east 
side of Little Eiver when his wife was captured ; and, as the deed is dated 
less than two months subsequent to the vote of the General Court, grant- 
ing him fifty pounds for the scalps taken by his wife, it almost confirms 
the old and generally received tradition, that the above place was hoiujlxt 
with the scalp money. 

In the town records, under date of March 4, 1701-2, mention is made 
of " the highway that leads up to Tho Duston's Mill." This is strong 

died January 16, 1672. Thomas, of Dover 1610, perhaps removed to Kitteiy before 1652. Thomas, of 
Haverhill, perhaps son of the preceding, married Hannah Emerson, December 3, 1677." 

« Hawk. t Essex Reg. Deeds, book 20, p. 2. 

t Essex Reg. Deeds, book 13, p. 43. 

§ February 24, 1684, the town granted Wm. Starlin two ten acre lots. One lot was " at the Fishing 
River, near the saw mill path." (The lot was bounded on one side by the river) ; the other ailjoined the 
above, .and was granted " For encouragement of Wra. Starlin to set up a Corn Mill at Fishing River, near 
to Robert Emerson's." — Town Records, Vol. 1, jp. 183. 



196 niSTOET OF nATERniLL. 

presumptive evidence that Duston at tLat time resided at Fishing Kiver. 
Vi'c have no doubt that he removed there soon after he purchased the place. 
But that he actually did, subsetj[ueutly, reside there, is, we think, made 
clear by the following: — 

In June, 1717, Thomas Dustin deeded to his son Nathaniel, — "in 
consideration of yt Love I bear to My )Son Nathaniel Durston of ye town 
of Haverhill, =•' •' =•' one piece or Tract of Upland and meadow 

land lyinge and being in ye township of Haverhill aforesd, containing 
twenty acres more or less, heivgye one half of my Living I formerly lived 
on, on ye West Side of ye Saw J/ill River, and ye easterly pai't thereof."'' 

In March, 1723—1, Thomas Dustin deeded to his son, Timothy Dustin, 
" in* consideration of parental love and affection, =-•' --' " the full 

possession to be given after my decease, '-' my dwelling or 

mansion house Barn and Corn Mill now standing on the Fishing Eivcr ; " 
also, "one moiety or half part of my homestead or house lott, containing 
twelve acres, part of which land I purchased of Wm Starling. "f 

On the 8th of September, ISGO, the writer of these pages, in company 
with Moses Merrill, Esq., — than whom no one now living has had more 
frequent and favorable opportunities for examining and locating ancient 
deeds of land in the north and west parts of the town, — visited the place 
designated by Mr. Merrill as that upon which Thomas Duston lived at the 
time his wife was taken, and his house burned, by the savages, in 1697. 
The southci'ly line of the original farm bounds upon the cross road, on the 
northerly side of which the proposed " Dustin Monument " is now being 
erected, and the new school-house is located, and runs about northeast and 
southwest, from a point a few rods southwest of the monument site, to the 
Little Kiver. - The northerly line runs parallel with the above, thus giv- 
ing the farm the form of a parallellogram, with about one third of it on 
the westerly side of Jew Street. 

Having amved at the spot, Mr. Merrill made, in substance, the follow- 
ing statement : — "This is the original Thomas Duston farm, as I always 
understood it. It was laid out for ' eighty acres, more or less,' but con- 
tains considerable more than that. (We walked about oue hundred and 
sixty feet easterly from the road.) Here is the well belonging to the new 
house which Duston was building at the time the attack was made by the 
Indians. (AVe continued our walk about one hundred and twenty feet 

° In March, 1723-4, Thomns Puston deeded to his son, Jonathan Duston, — "in consideration of parental 
love and nntural airection" — "The Homestead or Lott whereon the said Jonathan now dtvclls" — •' fifteen 
acres, more or less," — "bounded at a great rock by the highway, w/iic/j is a corner bound of land I gave 
to my son Nathaniel." — " Essex Reg. Deeds, book 5i, j>. 206. 

t Essex Reg. Deeds, book 43, p. 107. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 197 

further, in the same direction.) Here is the cellar of Duston's new brick 
house. (We continued our walk easterly, toward the lower land. About 
two hundred and fifty feet from the cellar, Mr. Merrill stopped, looked 
about, — evidently taking the bearing of the surrounding objects,' — went 
a little distance east, returned to nearly the same spot, hesitated, — ob- 
served that it was many years since he had been on the ground, and it was 
now somewhat changed by cultivation, — and, at length, struck his stick 
upon the ground, apparently firmly decided.) The house from which 
Hannah Duston was taken stood just about here. When I was young, I 
could see the cellar distinctly, though it was partly filled with stones. It 
must have been a small house, because the cellar was small. I have no 
doubt that this is the identical spot, because, when I was quite a lad, I 
heard old Mrs. Ayer (' Joseph Ayer's mother ' ) say that she knew this ivas 
the place. She coupled the assertion with a curious remark, which I have 
never forgotten, and which served to fix the circumstance firmly in my 
mind. She was very aged at the time. I never heard any other place 
spoken of, until within a few years. (We noticed, distinctly, that Mr. 
Merrill stood just within the edge of a small place where the grass was 
apparently much drier than that all about it. Might not this have been 
caused by the thin layer of soil over the stones with which the old cellar 
was filled, and the consequent leaching of the moisture ? We walked a 
few rods beyond the edge of the low ground, and stopped at a well.) 
Here is the well. I have a distinct impression that, in my younger days, 
the house was spoken of as having been twenty rods, or such a matter, 
northwest from this well.-'' (Wc returned to the road, upon the opposite 
side of which — and a little to the south — Mr. Merrill pointed out an old 
cellar.) Here is where Nathaniel Duston lived. The land was given him 
by his father. Jonathan lived over at the southwesterly corner, beyond 
the new school-house. {Question. — How did it happen that the monument 
ground came to be regarded as the site of the original Duston house?) 
I don't know, unless the tradition that Mrs. Duston was buried from that 
house, became confounded with the other traditions. Old Mrs. Ayer said 
that after Mr. Duston died, Mrs. Duston lived with her son, Jonathan, on 
that place, and was buried from his house." 

o A pocket compass subsequently jravc us the fallowing bearings : — Mr. Charles Dustan's house in the 
Korth Parish, hears about ten degrees north of east from the Well; and the house of Mr. J. Whitaker 
about ten degi-ees west of south. From the well to the old cellar is one hundred and sixty-four feet, in a 
west-north-west direction. From the latter to the new cellar is seventy-one paces. From the north-east 
corner of the later, the North Church bears almost exactly south-east. The well of the new house is about 
one hundred and twenty feet from the new cellar, and about one hundred and sixty feet east from the 
road. The "Monument" site bears south-west from the last named well and cellar. The cellar of the 
house of Jonathan Duston, is about twenty feet north-west from the site of the " Dustin Monument." 



198 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

We have tlius given the substance of such deeds, grants, and authorita- 
tive traditions, as bear directly upon the point in issue, and the reader is 
left free to decide the matter for himself, ^\e will only add, that we 
commenced the investigation unbiassed in favor of either of the locations 
contended for, but rise from it fidly convinced that the one designated by 
Mr. Merrill is the true one.= ' 

But to return from this long digression, to our narrative. After the 
attack on Duston's house, the Indians dispersed themselves in small par- 
ties, and attacked the houses in the vicinity. Nine houses were plundered 
and reduced to ashes on that eventful day, and in every case their owners 
were slain while defending them. Twenty-seven persons were slaughtered, 
(fifteen of them children) and thirteen captured, f The following is a list 
of the killed : — John Keezar, his father, and son, George ; John Kimball 
and his mother, Hannah ; Sarah Eastman ; Thomas Eaton ; Thomas Emer- 
son, his wife, Elizabeth, and two children, Timothy and Sarah ; Daniel 
Bradlc}^ his wife, Hannah, and two children, Mary and Hannah ; Martha 
Dow, daughter of Stephen Dow ; Joseph, Martha, and Sarah Bradley, 
children of Joseph Bradley ; Thomas and Mehitable Kiugsbury ; Thomas 
Wood and his daughter, Susannah; John Woodman and his daughter, 
Susannah ; Zechariah White ; and Martha, the infant daughter of Mr. 
Duston. 

Having fully glutted their thirst for blood, and fearing a general alarm 
of the town, the savages, in small parties, as was their custom, commenced 
a hasty retreat. The rumor of this attack soon teached the village, and 
an armed party was collected and started in pursuit, but without success. 

Mirick adds the following, to his account of this attack: — " One of 
their number stole the old or first town book, and with a few others re- 
treated up the river. In the westerly part of the town, now Methuen, 
they came upon a yoke of oxen, and with that hellish barbarity which is 
their principal characteristic in war, cut out their tongues, struck up a 
fire and broiled them. Had they despatched the oxen, after their tongues 
were out, it would have been a deed of mercy ; but instead of doing that, 
they left them in that dreadful situation. After their repast was over, 

o The distance from that spot to the site of the old garrison house on Pecker's Hill," in an air line, 
is a fraction over one mile. From th« monument site, to the same place, is a little less than a mile; the 
diftercnce bein^ about fifty rods. So far, then, as the distance is concerned, either place will agree with 
the tradition. 

t From a petition to the Governor and Council, under date of April 17, 1701, we learn that the follow- 
in? Haverhill captives were still missing: — D.iniel Bradley, aged seven ; Abigail Kimball, aged eight; and 
Pli'llip Cod, agodsix; — all talccn Man:h 15, 1G97 : Jonathan Haines, aged twelve; and Joseph Haines, 
aged seven ; — talien August 15, 1090 : and Abraham Whittilicr, aged eight or nine, taken in August, 1091. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 199 

they continued tlieir retreat, but either designedly or intentionally, left the 
town-book. It was soon found, but so damaged with water, that many of 
the records were perfectly illegible." 

We feel confident that Mirick is in error in both these particulars — for 
the following reasons : — Nathaniel Saltonstall, who was then Town Clerk, 
and had held the office constantly since 1669, lived at the place, east of 
the village, so long in possession of his family, and we can hardly see how 
the savages, who did not venture within about two miles of his house, 
could have obtained possession of the town-book. Perhaps, however, the 
book was at that time in the possession of the family of John Carleton, 
the. former Clerk, who lived on the place west of the village, now owned 
and occupied by his descendant and namesake. But even in that case, or, 
indeed, in any case, we can hardly credit the story of an Indian making a 
prize of an old record book, when there were so many other things within 
his grasp, far more attractive and valuable to savage eyes. 

But in regard to the second particular, we have no doubt that Mirick is 
mistaken. We think that he has misplaced the incidents belonging to a 
subsequent outrage, which happened in the same vicinity. We refer to 
the massacre of Jonathan Haynes and Samuel Ladd, which took place near 
World's End Pond, in the February following. Each of these men had a 
yoke of oxen, which the Indians killed, and then " cut out their tongues, 
and the best pieces," to carry along with them.'''' This party camped over 
night in " Mill Meadow," about one mile and a half north-east of the 
above pond. Considering the great difficulty, not to say impossibility, of 
cutting out the tongue of a living ox, iinder such circumstances, and the 
striking similarity of the two traditions in other respects, we have no hes- 
itation in expressing the opinion that the savages were not guilty of the 
charge thus alledged against them. 

Erom the following, which passed the Assembly March 22d, 1697, it 
appears that at the time an opinion prevailed that Col. Saltonstall was cen- 
surable for negligence in this matter. But as nothing further appears to 
have been done about it, we are bound to believe thaji the complaint origi- 
nated from the anguish of bereavement, rather than from any fault of the 
Colonel. 

" Whereas it is reported that Col Saltingstall hath been very negligent 
of his duty as Col: & that the late damage at Haverhill wherin about 40 
of his majesties subjects were killed & captivated by the Heathin enemie 
besides six houses burnt & much spoile, & yt the said Coll did not (as he 

" Tradition, as repeated to us by the vener;iblo Mr. Isaiah How, who lives near the place of the 
massacre. 



200 HISTORY OF KAVERniLL. 

ougtt) when he had notice of the enemies approach take care to draw them 
into Garrison ; nor encourage the pursuit of them "when persons offered ; 
that his Honor will be pleased to make inquiry into said affair & see that 
there may be due annimadversons ; which may be a proper means to pre- 
vent the like miscariages."=-= 

It was a terrible blow for the town. Some of its most useful citizens, 
and promising youth, were among the slain ; and well knowing that they 
were daily and hourly liable to similar attacks, it needs no stretch of im- 
agination to declare that fear seized the herrts of the inhabitants. 

The most vigorous measures were speedily taken to prevent, if possible, 
another similar bloody massacre : guards were stationed in many of the 
houses, and the brick house of Thomas Duston, that had been partly fin- 
ished the year previous, but had not been occupied, was ordered to be 
garrisoned. The following is a copy of the order to Mr. Duston, when 
appointed to command it :f 

" To Thomas Dustin, upon the settlement of garrisons. April 5 169G-7. 
You being appointed master of the garrison at your house, you are hereby, 
in his Maj's [Majesty's] name, required to see that a good watch is kept 
at your garrison both by night and by day, by those persons hereafter 
named who are to be under your command and inspection in building or 
rejiairing 3^ our garrison ; and if any person refuse or neglect their duty, 
you are accordingly required ta make return of the same, under your hand, 
to the Committee of militia in Haverhill. The persons appointed are as 
followeth: — .losiah Heath, sen., Josiah Heath, jun., Joseph Bradley, John 
Heath, Joseph Kingsbury, and Thomas Kingsbury. 

By order of the Committee of militia. 

Samuel Aver, Capt. 

Mr. Duston was, for the times, largely engaged in brick-making. The 
business, however, was attended with no little danger, on account of the 
Indians, who were almost continually lurking in the vicinity, watching an 
opportunity for a successful attack, 'fhe clay-pits were only a short dis- 
tance from the garrison, but the enemy were so bold that a file of soldiers 
constantly guarded those who brought the clay from the pits to the yard 
near the house, where it was made into bricks. 

There is a good story told of one Joseph AVhittaker, one of the guard 
stationed at this garrison while commanded by Mr. Dustin, and which will 
doubtless be looked for in this place : — 

Joseph was a young, unmarried man, full of " marcury," as the story 
goes, who became deeply entangled in the webs unconsciously wound 

<* Slate Archives. t ^^rs. Duston hail not yet rcturncil from her captivity. , -. 



i 



HISTORY OF hayehhill. 201 

arotind his susceptible heart, by one Mary Whittaker, who was then living 
in the garrison. Joseph struggled long and manfully to escape from the 
silken meshes, but in vain. At last, summoning all his courage to his 
assistance, he improved a favorable opportunity to make a declaration of 
his passion. But, ah ! most unfortunate Joseph, Mary did not listen 
with favor to his story. He pleaded, he entreated, he imploi-ed her to take 
pity on his forlorn condition, but all to no purpose. Mary Whittaker em- 
phatically declared that she did not reciprocate the passion of the aforesaid 
Joseph Yv'hittaker — not she. Joseph arose: his Whittaker blood was up ; 
and he was not to be turned off in that manner — and by aAVhittaker, too — 
not he. He told Mary that unless she accepted his offer, he would jump 
into the well, and thus put an end to the life of the unhappy Joseph "\Miit- 
taker. But Mary was not to be so easily won, and, " with one long, 
lingering look behind," Joseph immediately left the garrison, went straight 
to the well, seized a large log near by. and — threw it into the dark, deep 
waters ! Mary heard the plunge, and her heart relented. She suddenly 
remembered how fondly she loved him, and, with her hair streaming in the 
dark night-wind, she rushed to the well, and, with bleeding, agonizing 
heart, cried out — "Oh, Joseph! Joseph! if you are in the land of the 
living, I will have you." Joseph immediately emerged from his hiding 
place, and threw himself into her arms, exclaiming — " Mary, I will take 
you at your word." 

Although the two Whittakers were soon afterward made one, we do not 
learn that the number of Whittakers was thereby permanently diminished. 

No further attack was made on the inhabitants of this town the same 
year, but other places suffered severely, =■' and the whole frontier was kept 
in a state of continual fear, anxiety, and watchfulness. 

The next year, the Indians commenced their incursions unusually early. 
On the 22d of February, a party fell upon Andover, killed five of the in- 
habitants, and captured as many more. On their return, the same party 
killed Jonathan Haynes and Samuel Ladd, of this town, and captured a 
son of each.f 

Haynes and Ladd, who lived in the western part of the town, had 
started that morning, with their teams, consisting of a yoke of oxen and a 

o At Groton, May 20, one person was killed and three wounded ; at Exeter, June 10th, one was killed, 
one wounded, and one cnptured ; the same day, two were taken captive at Amesbury ; July 29th, three 
were killed and one wounded, at Dover; August 7th, three were killed, and three captured at Saco; 
September 8th, twelve were killed, and twelve wounded, at Damariscotta; September 11th, twenfy-one 
were killed, two wounded, and six captured at Lancaster ; and November loth, one person was killed, and 
one captured at Jojjnson's creek. 

T Mirick. 

26 



202 HISTORY OF IIATBEHILL. 

horse, each, and accompanied with their eldest sons, Joseph and Daniel, io 
bring home some of their hay, which had been cut and stacked the preced- 
ing summer, in their meadow, in the extreme western part of the town. 
"While they were slowly returning, little dreaming of present danger, they 
suddenly found themselves between two files of Indians, who had concealed 
themselves in the bushes on each side of their path. There were seven of 
them on a side. With guns presented and cocked, and the fathers, seeing 
it was impossible to escape, begged for "quarter." To this, the Indians 
twice replied, "boon quarter ! boon quarter ! " (good quarter.) Young Ladd, 
who did not relish the idea of being quietly taken prisoner, told his father 
that he Avould mount the horse, and endeavor to escape. But the old man 
forbid him to make the attempt, telling him it was better to risk remaining 
a prisoner. He cut his father's horse loose, however, and giving him the 
lash, he started off at full speed, and though repeatedly fired at by 
the Indians, succeeded in reaching home, and was the means of giving an 
immediate and general alarm.''' 

Two of the Indians then stepped behind the fathers, and dealt them a 
heavy blow upon the head. Mr. Haynes, who was quite aged, instantly 
fell, but Ladd did not. Another of the savages then stepped before the 
latter, and raised his hatchet as if to strike. Ladd closed his eyes, ex- 
pecting the blow would fall — but it came not — and when he again opened 
them, he saw the Indian laughing and mocking at his fears. Another im- 
mediately stepped behind him and felled him at a blow. 

" The Indians, on being asked why they killed the old men, said that 
they killed Haynes because he was ' so old he no go ivith tis ; ' — meaning 
that he was too aged and infirm to travel ; and that they killed Ladd, who 
was a fierce, stern looking man, because ' he so sour.' They then started 
for Penacook, where they arrived, with the two boys. Young Ladd soon 
grew weary of his situation, and one night after his Indian master and 
family had fell asleep, he attempted to escape. He had proceeded but a 
short distance, when he thought that he should want a hatchet to fell trees 
t ) assist him in"crossing the streams. He accordingly returned, entered a 
wigwam near his master's, where an old squaw lay sick, and took a hatchet. 
The sipaw watched his movements, and probably thinking that he intended 
to kill her, vociferated with all her strength. This awakened the Indians 
in the wigwam, who instantly arose, re-captured him, and delivered him 
again to his master, who bound his hands, laid him upon his back, fastened 

* One version of the tnidition is, thut the horse rushed against the door of his muster's house, bursting 
it open, and fell dead upon the threshold, upon seeing which, Mrs. Ladd exclairatd, in agony, " Oh ! the 
Ind'ans have kiljed Ladd," 



HISTORY or HAVERHILL. 203 

one of his feet to a tree, and in that manner kept him fourteen nights. 
They then gashed his face with their knives, filled the wounds with pow- 
der, and kept him on his back until it was so indented in the flesh, that it 
was impossible to extract it. He carried the scars to his gi-ave, and is 
now frequently spoken of by his descendants as the ' marked man.' Some 
years after, he found means to return, and his scarred and powdered counte- 
nance produced many witticisms at his expense. He was one day walking 
the streets of Boston, and a parrot observing his ' marked ' features, vocif- 
erated, * a rogue ! a rogue ! ' Haynes remained a prisoner with the Indians 
some years, and was at last redeemed by his relatives. "=■•■' 

When Haynes was about leaving the Indians, his master, in token of 
his good will and esteem, presented him his best cane. This cane is now 
in the possession of Guy C. Haynes, of East Boston, a descendant. The 
upper half is neatly ornamented with diamond-shaped figures, cut with a 
knife. 

On the -Sth of March, a party of about forty Indians again attacked 
Andover, killed five persons, burnt two houses, and two barns with the 
cattle in them. On their retvirn, "they made spoil on Haverhill."f 

This proved to be the last attack in the vicinity, during this war. Peace 
being declared between France and England, the governor of Canada in- 
formed the Indians that he could no longer support them in their war 
against the English, and advised them to bury the hatchet, and re- 
store their captives. This they concluded to do, and a treaty was at length 
made with them at Casco. 

During this war, (from June, 1689, to May, 1698,) five hundred and 
sixty-one persons were killed, eighty-one wounded, and one hundred and 
sixty-one captured by the Indians, in Massachusetts, Xcw Hampshire, 
and Maine, including Schnectady. Soon after peace was declare^, a gen- 
eral contribution was taken in the Province, for the relief of those who 
were prisoners with the French and Indians. 

On the return of peace, the settlers were again allowed to engage in the 
cultivation of their land, and in the increasing of their flocks and herds, 
without the constant fear of an attack from an unseen and barbarous foe. 

** Mirick. 

t Hutchinson. This " spoil," we presume, was the burning of the house and buildings of Philip East- 
naan, which were destroyed by the Indians this year. 



20-i HISTORY OP DAVERHlLIw 



CHAPTER XlY. 



Indian Troubles — 1700 to 1710. 



At the annual town meeting for 1699, nine applications were made for 
grants of land, all of tohich were denied. The town had for some time 
been growing more sparing in its grants of land, and it now seems to have 
decided not to grant any more, except for "value received," cither in 
money, or some other equally tangible and valuable equivalent. 

As the town increased in population and importance, its lands became 
the more valuable, and the number of applications for new grants inci eased 
in a corresponding ratio. As the township was originally purchased by a 
few individuals, their descendants, as the undivided lands become more 
and more valuable, must have frequently found themselves considering the 
question totvhom do these ungranted lands belong] The records of the year 
1700, for the first time, show that this was the case, and that the general 
feeling was strongly against new comers into town having any voice in the 
further disposition of the " common lands." It appears that some years 
previous, a committee had been chosen to consider the matter, but nothing 
bad been done by them. At the annual meeting this year, the subject 
assumed considerable prominence, as will be seen from the following : — 

" There being too much apparent disorder in the voting about disposal 
and improvement of Common land, those that have no interest in Common 
land putting in votes, and overrunning by violence and combination the 
certain Proprietors, to dispose and order their own : it is 

Ordered that Cornet Peter Ayer being deceased, who was one of the 
Committee men formerly appointed for the examination of the rights that 
any have in Common land in this town, and privilege to vote about the 
same ; That another man be now chosen to join with Nath: Saltonstall and 
John White who are yet alive of said Committee." 

Captain Samuel Ayer was chosen to fill the vacancy, and then " after 
long discourse," it was voted " That there shall not be any further proceed 
for ,Gift, Grant, Sale, or Exchange, or alteration of any land laying in 
Common, to, or with any person, till by Law or Town order, it be known 
who are the Proprietors that have liberty to vote about the disposal of 
land, which they are to make out to the said Committee men this day 
appointed to consider the same and make report thereon." 



HISTORY OF HAVEKHILL. 205 

The next vote was as follows : — " By reason of many alterations of the 
Proprietors unto lands lying in Common, either stinted or not already 
granted, which makes it uncertain who are the owners who have a right to 
vote and order the same which hath this day (upon some men's claiming a 
right which is not known) put a stop to the proprietors in the business 
lying before them ; the Town do hereby refer the examination of that 
matter unto the said Committee this day appointed thereunto." 

The next we find touching the matter, is the record of a meeting August 
26, 1700, designated as " a meeting of the Proprietors to ungranted and 
undivided lands to consider about encroachments &c. called by the Select- 
men's AYarrant. At this meeting nothing was done, except to confirm the 
doings of a previous meeting, when certain things were done "by a full 
and unanimous, though mixed vote of inhabitants and proprietors." The 
object seems to have been to draw and preserve the line of distinction 
between those who were Proprietors of the ungranted lands in the town, and 
those who were merely inhabitants. In this view, the Town from this 
time refused to act on any matters involving the proprietorship of these 
ungranted lands. Thus, in 1702, in reply to a petition of Joseph Peasely 
for an exchange of land, the town refused to consider the matter, because 
the petition was " not directed to the proprietors of lands, but to the Town, 
many of whom have no power to vote in the disposal of lands." 

Previous to this time, the town had invariably voted upon each demand 
or bill against the town, separately — or, in other words, had been its own 
auditor— but this way of doing the business had now become too cumber- 
some, and, to save time and trouble, a committee was chosen " to audit the 
bills of claims, and so to settle the account on each bill, and return the 
sum total to the town." The amount reported, was nineteen pounds, 
seventeen shillings, two and a half pence, for which the selectmen were 
ordered to lay a rate upon the inhabitants. 

This year, a building was ordered to be erected for a watch-house, school- 
house, and for any other use to which it might be appropriated. It was 
buflt on what is now Main street, near the top of the hill, and faced the 
Merrimack. 

Trouble with the Indians already again threatened the frontier towns, 
and measures of defense forced themselves upon the inhabitants. From 
documents in the State Archives, we learn that in March and April of this 
year, (1700) Capt. Samuel Ayer had twenty soldiers under his command, 
who were in constant service during that time in this town. March 16th, 
twenty men were sent from Ipswich to Haverhill ; thirty to Wells ; fifteen 
to York ; fifteen to Kittery, and ten to Amesbury. 



20 G HISTORY OF HATERniLL. 

On the 3d of June, a grammar-scliool was ordered to be established im. 
mediately, and Mr. Kichard Saltonstall was appointed to procure a suitable 
instructor. In July thirty pounds were raised to be appropriated for that 
purpose ; and the selectmen were ordered to " write a letter to the scholar 
that Kichard Saltonstall had treated with, or to some other meet person, 
to invite him to come and be the school-master for this town of Haverhill." 

The school was not, however, established ; as we find that the next year, 
September 12th, a meeting was called to see about a school-master, when 

" The question being moved by some of the inhabitants whether this 
Town is obliged by the Law to be provided with a Grammar school-master — 
Yea or no : the Town answers in the negative and therefore do not proceed 
to do it, because they do not find they have the number of one hundred 
families or householders which the law mentions." 

At the annual election, in 1701, John AYhite was chosen Town Clerk, 
in place of Nathaniel Saltonstall, who had filled the ofiice regularly, and 
acceptably, since 1668, a period of more than thirty years. The latter 
was now an old man, grown gray in the active and honorable servive of 
his country, and his town, and he sought, in the retirement of his own 
fire-side, that repose which should the better fit him for his approaching 
sunset of life.'" 

A special committee was chosen, at this time, " to seat all such strangers 
as are come to town since the last seating, or such as may come the present 
year to dwell here as settled inhabitants." It was further ordered that, 
" if any of the inhabitants did sit in any seat where he or she was not 
seated, should pay a fine of one shilling in money." 

It appears that Joseph Peasely had recently suffered considerably by 
fire, for the town " voted to give him his rates" on that account. 

Early in the spring, the Indians again made their appearance, in small 
parties, traversing the woods in every direction. They soon became bold, 
and attacked the garrison of Jonathan Emerson ; but were repulsed with 
the loss of two killed, while the whites sustained no injury. One of the 
soldiers, after the war was over, meeting one of the Indians, spoke of 
the attack, when the following dialogue ensued : ■ — 

" ' You had two of your number slain,' said the garrison man, ' How 
do you know that?' asked the Indian. * "NVe saw your biers,' was the 
reply. ' Ugh, Ugh,' grunted the tawny fellow of the woods. 'And you 
put them in the great hole,' continued the garrison man. ' Ugh, Ugh I 
no, we did not,' muttered the Indian, feeling that he was questioned too 
closely. ' What did you do with them ? ' asked the garrison man, laugh- 

o He died in 1707. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 207 

ing in his sleeve, as the saying is, confident that he had the best end of 
the dispute. ' We carried them to the deep hole above,' he replied, 
sharply ; and immediately wheeled about and marched for the ■woods."'-' 

The " deep holes," referred to by the Indian, were situated in the low- 
lands, a short distance from the junction of Fishing and Little Eivers, 
and not far from the present brick-yards. One of them not many years 
since, was near fifteen feet in depth, and was called the great hole ; and 
the other was called the deep hole. Soon after the attack on the garrison, 
'two Indian biers were found near them, which led to the supposition that 
two of the enemy were slain. 

The breaking out of a new war in Europe, was the occasion of this re- 
newal of Indian hostilities. The inhabitants of the town again found 
themselves exposed to all the dangers and horrors of a savage border war- 
fare, and were obliged to resort to former measures of defence and security. f 
In addition to the old garrisons, one was ordered to be kept in the north- 
easterly part of the town, in the house of James Sanders, who lived near 
the foot of the hill still known by his name, — "Sander's Hill." His 
house stood on or near the site of the present house of Kichard Stuart.| 

It was customary for the nearest neighbors to sleep in the garrisons at night, 
but one Thomas Whittier,§ a member of the Society of Friends, who lived near 
the garrison above mentioned, always refused to shelter himself and family 
beneath its roof. Belying upon the weapons of his faith, he left his own 
house unguarded, and unprotected with palisades, and carried with him no 
weapons of war. The Indians frequently visited him, and the family often 
heard them, in the stillness of the evening, whispering beneath the 
windows, and sometimes saw them peep in upon the little group of prac- 
tical "non-resistants." Friend Whittier always treated them civilly 
and hospitably, and they ever retired without molesting him. To injure 
such a household, was too diabolical, even for a blood-thirsting savage. 

January 5, 1702, a meeting was called to see about laying a tax " for 
the defraying the Town charges in 1701." The following, which is given 
as the total indebtedness of the Town, is well worth a place in our pages : — 

" To Mr Benj Eolfe £01.10.00 

To Capt Ayre 09.15.00 

* Tradition. — Mirich. 

t The House of Representatives (1702) ordered snnw-shoes to be provided for the frontier towns, on 
account of their exposure to Indian depredations in the winter. 

X John Sanders, the first of that name in this town, was from Weeks, in the Parish of Dainton, County 
of Wilts, England. He made his will in 1670. The above-named James, was, we believe, a son of the 
first John. 

§ The ancester of our distinguished Poet. 



208 HISTORY OF HAVERniLL. 

To John "V\Tiite 06,14.00 

To the Schoolmaster 06.00.00 

To the Selectmen's salary 02.10.00 

To the Assessors of the Country Tax 01.04.00 

To making return of the choice of Representative OO.OG.OO 

To time and money spent to obtain a Schoolmaster 00.06.00 

To returning an account of the Country Tax 00.08.00 

To Jotham Hendrick 01.03.06 

To Constable Bartlitt 00.03.00 

To Hanniel Clark 00.12.00 

To Constable Simmons 00.03.00 

To Capt Simon Wainwright 00.02.00 

To the Committee for Micall Emerson's land 01.10.00 

Tlie above sums the Town voted to pay, after deducting the following 
credits : — 

" Due to the Town from Ens. Saml Hutchins £00.09.09 

from Joseph Bond 00.08.06 

from Serjt Josiah Gage 00.07.03 

from Const. Saml Ayer 00.08.06 

Leaving the Town's indebtedness £31.12.06, for which a rate, or tax, 
was voted to be made. This year, John Hutchins was chosen " Sealer of 
Leather."" Such an officer was first chosen in 1675, and from that time 
to 1702, Michael Emerson had been annually re-elected.f 

The minister, Mr. Eolfe, applying to the town for a supply of wood, ten 
pounds was added to his salary for that purpose, and he was also allowed 
" four public contributions."! 

The Selectmen being ordered to get a Schoolmaster, for this year, " with 
all the speed they possibly can," engaged a Mr. Tufts, and agreed to pay 
him thirty-four pounds for his services. The cause of this great hurry to 
get a schoolmaster, was the fact, which afterward appears, that the town 
had been again "presented" for being destitute of a school. Their post- 
haste compliance with the law did not, however, save them from a fine for 
previous neglect. § 

At the annual meeting in 1 703, Captain Eichard Saltonstall petitioned 
for liberty to run a fence " from the pound cross over the spot where the 

° John Hutchins was a son of Joseph, of this town, who was probably a son of John, of Newbury, as 
were also John and Samuel, of this town. 

t A Cleric of the Market was first chosen in 1098. Ensign Thomas Eatton was the first, and continued 
in the office until 1706. 

t Four public contributions were first granted him the year previous, and were annually voted him until 
his death, in 1708. 

§ Court Records, 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. ^ 209 

old meeting-house formerly stood, to his fence," and to " feed the burying- 
place." or else he wanted the town themselves to fence in the burying- 
place by itself. They voted to do the latter. Prom this it appears that 
the old meeting-house had already disappeared, though it was only about 
three years since it was abandoned for worship. Let us, then, fondly 
believe that it was not, after all, occupied as a horse shed ! 

Mr. Tufts' engagement as schoolmaster having expired, a meeting was 
held July 21, to see what should be done for the future. After much dis- 
cussion, the meeting adjourned to August ISth, when they met, and again 
adjourned to September loth, without coming to any decision. At the 
meeting in September, " after much discourse about getting a school- 
master, the town, on consideration of their troubles with the Indians, 
resolved that nothing should be done about it, and the meeting was 
dissolved. 

That the town had good excuse for declining to assume the expense of a 
school in their then exposed and straightened condition, is made evident 
by a subsequent order of the General Court (November 1705) exempting 
all towns of less than two hundred families from keeping a Grammar 
School for three years, — on account of their being impoverished by the 
Indian war. 

The Indians had been quite peaceable for a year or two, and the inhabi- 
tants pleased themselves with the hope that they would not again trouble 
them. They therefore relaxed their watchfulness, and neglected to guard 
their dwellings as strictly as in former years. But the French in Canada 
were again stirring up the savages to deeds of blood and cruelty, and 
plotting the ruin of the frontier settlements of New England. 

The first important attack in this war," was made on the 10th of August, 
when five hundred French and Indians ravaged the settlements from Casco 
to AVells, and killed and captured one hundred and thirty persons. The 
news of this incursion had hardly reached this town, when intelligence 
was received of an attack on Hampton, by a party of thirty Indians, in 
which five of the inhabitants were killed. It was this alarming intelli- 
gence, that led to the adjournment of the second meeting above alluded to, 
and the final decision of September 15th. 

The attack on Hampton proved to be the last one of that season, and the 
inhabitants were left to pass a few months in gloomy anxiety, and fearful 
apprehensions. 

During the winter, as the Indians had heretofore seldom made their 
appearance before the opening of spring, less care was taken to guard 

^ Which is known as the French a7id Indian War. 

27 



210 niSTORY OF HAVERniLL. 



against surprise. This carelessness proved fatal, ere winter was over, aa 
luay be seen from tbe following account, wliich we copy from Mirich: — 

" On the 8tli of February, about 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon,-' a 
party of six Indians attacked the garrison of Joseph Bradley, which was 
unhappily in an unguarded state — even the sentries had left their stations, 
and the gates were open. The Indians approached cautiously, and were 
rushing into the open gates, before they were discovered. Jonathan John- 
son, a sentinel, who was standing in the house, shot at and wounded the 
foremost, and Mrs. Bradley, who had a kettle of boiling soap over the fire, 
seized her ladle, and filling it with the steaming liquid, discharged it on 
his tawuy pate — a i'oa/v-orific that almost instantly brought on a sleep, 
from which he has never since awoke.f The rest of tbe party immediately 
rushed forward, killed Johnson, | made prisoner of the intrepid woman, 
and of some otliers. Pike in his Journal says four.§ Three persons es- 
caped from the garrison. The Indians, then fearing lest they should soon 
be attacked by a stronger party, commenced a hasty retreat, aiming for 
Canada, which was their place of resort when they had been so successful 
as to take a number of prisoners. 

Mrs. Bradley was in delicate circumstances, and in slender health ; still 
she received no kindness from her savage conquerors. No situation of 
woman would ever protect her from their demon-like cruelties. The 
weather was cold ; the wind blew keenly over the hills, and the ground 
was covered with a deep snow, — -yet they obliged her to travel on foot, 
and carry a heavy burthen, too large even for the strength of man. In 
this manner they proceeded through the wild wilderness ; and Mrs. Brad- 
ley informed her family, after she returned, that for many days in succes- 
sion, she subsisted on nothing but bits of skin, ground-nuts, the bark of 
trees, wild onions, and lily roots. 

° Pike's Journal. t Penhallow. % Town Records. 

§ We copy the following from Mr. Pike's Journal — it is all that he says of the affair. "Feb. 8. 
About 3 or 4 o'clock, afternoon, Joseph Bradley's house, at Haverhill, was taken by six Indians ; 13 per- 
sons killed and 5 carried away, whereof one returned. 3 more persons escaped out of the house, and 1 In- 
dian was slain in it by Jonathan Johnson." Mr. Pike is the only one that we can find, who says that 
thirteen persons were killed in this attack. Penhallow, in his history of the "Indian Wars," speaks of 
no other slain, than Jonathan Johnson and the Indian; and if there were thirteen killed, it appears 
rather singular that he did not mention it. Mr. Pike says there were only six Indians, and thirteen slain 
— the disparity of the two parties seem to invalidate his statement, for, unless they were all children, 
which is not probable, they must have been positive cowards, or been taken extremely unawares. Or, if 
they were women, it hardly seems probable to us, for women at that period, seem to possess, at times, as 
much courage and fortitude as the men. Another reason we have for doubting the statement of Mr. 
Pike, is the silence of the Town-Records on the subject. The death of Mr. Johnson is there faithfully re- 
corded, thus: — "Jonathan Johnson [birth] killed by the Indians, Feb. 8, 1703-4." Why did they 
neglect to record the deaths of the others ? It appears to us that, if other persons were slain, their deaths 
would have been recorded as well as that of Mr. Johnson. — Mirick, 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 211 

"WTiile in this situation, with none but savages for her assistants and 
protectors, and in the midst of a thick forest, she gave hirth to a child. 
The Indians then, as if they were not satisfied with persecuting the mother, 
extended their cruelties to the innocent and almost friendless babe. For 
the want of proper attention, it was sickly, and probably troublesome ; 
and when it cried, these remorseless fiends showed their pity, by throwing 
embers into its mouth.'' They told the mother that if she would permit 
them to baptize it in their manner, they would suffer it to live. Unwil- 
ling to deny their request, lest it should enrage their fierce and diabolical 
passions, and hoping that the little innocent would receive kindness at 
their hands, she complied with their request. They took it from her, and 
baptized it by gashing its forehead with their knives.f The feelings of 
the mother, when the child was returned to her with its smooth and white 
forehead gashed with the knife, and its warm blood coursing down its 
cheeks, can be better imagined than described. 

Soon as Mrs. Bradley had regained sufficient strength to travel, the In- 
dians again took up their march for Canada. But before they arrived at 
their place of rendezvous, she had occasion to go a little distance from the 
party, and when she returned, she beheld a sight shocking to a mother, 
and to every feeling of humanity. Her child, which was born in sorrow, 
and nursed in the lap of affliction, and on which she doted with maternal 
fondness, was piked upon a pole.t Its excrutiating agonies were over — 
it could no more feel the tortures of the merciless savages — and its mother 
could only weep over its memory. Soon after, they proceeded to Canada, 
where Mrs. Bradley was sold to the French for eighty livres. She informed 
her friends, after her return, that she was treated kindly by the family 
in which she lived. It was her custom, morning and evening, when she 
milked her master's cow, to take with her a crust of bread, soak it with 
milk, and eat it ; with this, and with the rations allowed her by her mas- 
ter, she eked out a comfortable subsistance.§ 

In March, 1705, her husband, hearing that she was in the possession of 
the French, started for Canada with the intention of redeeming her. He 
travelled on foot, accompanied only by a dog that drew a small sled, in 
which he carried a bag of snuff, as a present from the Governor of this 
Province to the Governor of Canada. ]| When he arrived, he immediately 
redeemed her,^ and set sail from Montreal for Boston, which they reached 
in safety ; and from thence travelled to Haverhill. 

° Penhallow. t Tradition. I Rev. Abiel Abbot's MSS. § Tradition. 

II The only authority we have of the dog and sled, and bag of snuff, is tradition, which we heard related 
very minutely by his descendants. — Mirick. 
% Penhallow, p. 10, 



212 HISTORY OF HAVERHILl. 

Penballow"' mentions this as her second captivity, and Hutchinson says 
the same ; but Penballow is, without doubt, his authority. Diligent 
search has been made to learn the history of her first ; but, thus far it has 
been unsuccessful. Very accurate traditions of the captivities of the other 
members of the family, have been transmitted to their descendants, but 
they have never heard their fathers tell that this person was taken at any 
other time ; at least, they can give no account of such a fact. We ex- 
tract the following, from Kev. Abiel Abbot's MS., taken by him from 
Judith AVhiting : — "Destitute of nurses and necessaries, the child was 
sickly, and apt to cry, and they would put hot embers in its mouth. Be- 
ing obliged to leave it a short time, on her return, she found it piked on a 
pole. '■■' '■'• '•■= Having been brought home by her husband, she was 

taken a second time, but not before she had finished and wounded an In- 
dian, by pouring boiling soap into his mouth." From this, it appears that 
she was twice captivated ; but of the truth of the statement, in this par- 
ticular, we will not undertake to judge. It certainly does not agree with 
Penhallow's, and if we rely on one, we must throw up the other, at least, 
in part." 

Mrs. Bradley's deposition, which we give in another place, is conclusive 
evidence that the above was her second captivity. As we have it from 
one of her descendants, Mrs. Bradley was engaged in boiling soap, when 
she was startled by the appearance of Indians at her very door, one "of 
whom exclaimed, exultingly, — " Now, Hannah, me got you." Instead, 
however, of quietly allowing herself to be captured a second time, Hannah 
saluted the savage with such vigorous applications of " soft soap," that he 
quickly gave up the ghost. After a desperate resistance, she was at last 
made a prisoner. Eevenge for the death of their comrade, was doubtless 
the principal cause of the subsequent tortures of the child by the savages. 
Their extreme barbarity, in this particular instance, can only be accounted 
for upon some such supposition. Their ingenuity was always exerted to 
the utmost in devising tortures for a brave wanior, when taken prisoner, 
and the case of Mrs. Bradley is but a similar instance of their revenge 
and cruelty. 

On the 29th of the samcmonth in which the attack was made on the 
garrison of Mr. Bradley, Hertel de lioiiville, with two hundred French, and 
one hundred and forty-two Indians, fell upon the town of Deerfield, Mass., 
killed forty-seven, and made prisoners of one hundred and twelve of its 

° Ilist. of Indian Wars, p. 10. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 213 

inhabitants. April 25tli, two persons were killed, and two captured, at 
Oyster Kiver ; and again in August several more were killed at the same 
place. 

It was indeed a time of trial to the inhabitants of the frontier. =■■' On the 
3d of August, Colonel Saltonstall thus writes to Colonel Thomas Noyes, of 
Newbury : — f 

*' Sir, by his excellency's express direction I command you in her 
majesty's name forthwith to appoint and set forth one-half of your com- 
pany by name and have them ready, well fixt with arms & ammunition 
and ten day's provision to march at an hours warning. The command is 
strict." 

On the 4th of August, Joseph Page, and Bartholomew Heath, of this 
town, were killed by the Indians, and a lad who was with them, narrowly 
escaped the same fate.J The particulars of this attack are now lost. 

On the 28th of September, Colonel Saltonstall again writes to Colonel 
Noyes : — 

" I desire and order that by tomorrow morning at farthest you press 
and post at your block houses in Newbury twelve able souldiers, three at 
each of your four (block) houses, to abide there night and day, to watch." 
. Happily, no further attacks were made that year ; but such was the 
distress and poverty occasioned by the Indian hostilities, that the town 
ordered its selectmen to petition the Assembly for an abatement of tlais 
year's taxes. 

During the next year, no attacks were made by the Indians, but the in- 
habitants had every reason to expect them, and were obliged to keep a 
constant watch and guard, day and night. In June, Governor Dudley 
ordered Colonel Saltonstall " to detach twenty able soldiers of the New- 
bury militia and have them rendezvous at Haverhill on July fifth." 

On the appearance of these " able soldiers " in this town. Colonel Sal- 
tonstall thus writes to Colonel Noyes, of Newbury : — § 

"Haverhill, July 17, 1705. 

I received your return of ye twenty men ye Governor commanded me 
to call for, and when ye persons (which I cant't call men) appeared, even 
a considerable number of them, to be but boys, or children, and npt fit for 
service, blind in part, and deaf, and cross-handed, I stopt till I waited on 

<* April 4th, a general Bast was held throughout the New England colonies, on account of the war with 
France and Spain. 
t Coffin. 

X Pike's Journal. Joseph Page was a son of Joseph; and Bartholomew Heath was a son of -John. 
§ Colliu. 



214 HISTORY OP HAYERHILL. 

ye governor, ye twelfth instant and upon liberty to speak with him, I with 
yc major have taken yc best care we can to keep the men and children 
sent hither for ye present, till I may have opportunity to tell you the 
queen likes it not to be served in this manner. 

But in one special, Nicholas •- ' ■= ^ by name, is blind, and deaf, and 

small, and not fit to be continued, and therefore to be short, I send Kicho- 
las ''••■'■•''•* ""=■' " home to you, and do expect that you will send some able 
man in his place, if you have an able one in Newbury. 

The other diminutives are sent out to garrison at present, or else you 
had mett with them to return to you for ye like exchange. 

My heart, if it speahs, is full. I wait a suitable time, to tell you what 
I have to say on her majesty's behalf. To take hoyes for orriglnaUy prest 
men, and they hired too, I know not ye regularity of it. I shall be glad to 
see you, and intend to do it at Haverhill or Newbury or a middle place, 
as you will desire, if I am able to attend, to see what is right and what is 
our duty for us to do. 

Your very humble servant, 

Nathaniel Saltonstall. 

To lieutenant-colonel Thomas Noyes." 

No one, we think, can blame the Colonel for writing thus severely. To 
send hired hoys, in place of able soldiers, to defend a frontier town against 
merciless savages, was indeed cruel. No wonder his heart was full, when 
he contemplated the feeble resistance such " soldiers" would make, incase 
of an attack. The bloody record of 1708 fully reveals the sad result of 
depending uj)on " hired boys " for defence J 

A fortnight later, Colonel Saltonstall again writes to Colonel Noyes : — 

"August 4th 1705. 

One Smith came this day with two of his sons in order to get a release 
for John Danford. I wonder how you concern yourself so much about this 
man, to get Danford home, and disregard your default and have not yet 
sent a good man for that pitiful insufficient sick man Nicholas ■■■' '•■' =■•' ■■•' " '■' ■■' 
whom I sent off ye sixteenth of July last to you to send a better hand, «&; 
he to returne in two days time to me but he is not yet come, nor other for 
him. Pray consider what lyes at your doore and do not deale so unhand- 
somely with your patient friend and humble servant, N. Saltonstall. 

To lieutenant-colonel Thomas Noyes." 

Thank Heaven, no attack was made by the enemy that season. Had it 
been otherwise, Colonel Noyes would have had bitter cause to " consider " 
the gi-evious wrong that lay at his door.'' 

*> A company of " CentinelB," under Captain Saltonstall, was also posted at Bradford block-houses, from 
April Gth, to September 7th, of the same year, and probably still later. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 215 

But little business was done by the town in this and the two succeeding 
years. The inhabitants were so closely occupied in guarding the lives of 
their families, that little time or inclination was left for anything else. 

In 170-5, John Swan, and Jonathan Emerson, were granted the privilege 
of setting up a grist-mill, on Little Eiver. The location was, we judge, 
near where Mr, Eich recently erected a mill, — about midway between 
the mouth of the river, and the Winter Street Bridge, — and near where 
Ezekiel Hale formerly had a grist-mill. 

At the next annual meeting, John White was allowed to build a " full- 
ing-mill on Mill Brook, near his now dwelling house." The location was 
probably near where the plaster-mill now stands. This was the first mill 
of that kind in town. 

The granting of new lands was still held in abeyance, as it was not yet 
known to whom they belonged. The town were evidently determined to 
move carefully in the matter, as may be seen from the following : — 

" Capt Saml Ayer moving to the proprietors of the land lying in Com- 
mon in Haverhill that before any vote or act pass for the disposing of the 
land or timber in Haverhill, it may be known who by law have right to 
vote in the aifair : This petition is granted." 

" Many other petitions were read in the Town meeting, but because of 
the last vote, nothing was acted on them." 

At the same meeting, a motion was made that the Town Clerk have the 
keeping of the " Town's old book of grants and orders so that copies might 
be given out, as out of other books in his hands," but being strongly ob- 
jected to, it was not put to vote." 

A committee of five were chosen, at the same time, to "run lines and 
settle bounds between individuals and the common-lands," and " the mod- 
erator gave notice for a meeting of the proprietors of the Common or 
undivided lands in Haverhill for April 2d." 

April 2d, " at a meeting of the Commoners," the old committee chosen 
to examine the claims of persons to these lands, were dismissed, and a new 
one chosen.f This new committee were ordered "to do it as speedily as 
they can." 

The next meeting of the Commoners, was July 21, 1707, when nothing 
was done except to adjourn to September 2d. At the latter meeting, a 
committee was chosen to prosecute all trespassers on the common lands, 

"' We do not learn in whose hands the hook was at this time, but it was probably one of the original 
proprietors of the township. 

t Captain Samuel Ayre, John White, Joseph Peasely, Sen. 



216 HISTORY OF HAVERniLL. 

and the Town Clerk was empowered, as " Clerk of the Proprietors in Hav- 
erhill Commons," to execute a power of attorney for the committee." 

At the Commoners* meeting of September 2d, Thomas Ayer petitioned 
"for a small piece of land to set a house on near the Meeting house, that 
so the said Ayer's wife might be the better accommodated for the keeping 
of school to teach children to read." The Selectmen were empowered to 
lay him out a piece for that purpose, to enjoy during her lifetime. f 

AVith the opening of the spring of 1706, the Indians again commenced 
harrassing the frontier settlements. The first attack was made in April, 
at Oyster Kiver, where eight persons were killed, and two wounded. On 
the 3d of July, seven were killed at Dunstable, and the same day, Ser- 
geant Kingsbury, of this town, was killed, or taken prisoner.^ A few 
days after, (10th) two more were killed, and two captured, at Dunstable ; 
and the same party penetrated as far as Amesbury, where they killed some 
cattle. At Exeter, the same day, four were killed, one wounded, and 
three captured. About the same time, one person was killed at Hampton. 

To add to the general alarm. Governor Dudley received intelligence from 
Colonel Schuyler, of Albany, that two hundred and seventy French atid 
Indians were on the march toward Piscataqua ! PortUnately for the in- 
habitants, the expedition was abandoned. 

Sometime in the summer of this year, a small party of Indians again 
visited the garrison of Joseph Bradley ; and it is said that he, his wife 
and children, and a hired man, were the only persons in it at the time. It 
was in the night, the moon shone brightly, and they could be easily seen, 
silently and cautiously approaching. Mr. Bradley armed himself, his wife 
and man, each with a gun, and such of his children as could shoulder one. 
INIrs. Bradley, supposing that they had come purposely for her, told her 
husband that she had rather be killed than be again taken. The Indians 
rushed upon the garrison, and endeavored to beat down the door. They 
succeeded in pushing it partly open, and when one of the Indians began 
to crowd himself through the opening, Mrs. Bradley fired her gun and shot 
him dead. The rest of the party, seeing their companion fall, desisted 
from their purpose, and hastily retreated. § 

Some idea of the dangers and alarms of these years, and the great exer- 
tions made for the security of the frontier towns, may be had from the 

" Suits were immediately instituted against several persons by the Committee. 

t Thomas Ayer married Ruth Wilford. Children, — Euth, born 1C95; Josiah, bom 1008; Thomas, 
bom icon ; Qibberd, born 1702 ; Euth, bom 1705, killed by Indians August 29, 1708. Euth, the wife, 
was also killed at the same time. Ayer afterward mai-ried widow Blasedell. Children, — Euth, born 1711, 
died young. 

t Pike's Journal. § Tradition, — Mirick. 



HISTORY OF HATERHILL. 217 

large numljer of soldiers ferried across the Merrimack at a single place — 
Griffin's ferry, opposite the present village: — Marcli 9, 1705, thirty 
men; July 1, 1706, forty-seven men ; 6th, forty-five men and horses ; 9th 
forty-one men; loth, thirty-eight men and horses; June -Ith, 1707, eleven 
men ; 14:th, forty-five men and horses; 30th, thirty-one men and horses ; 
July 15th, thirty-nine men and horses; August 1st forty-five men and 
horses; 26th, thirty-nine men and horses; September 27th, thirty men 
and horses; October 2-ith, forty-four men and horses. In 1708, Griffin 
fenried across, at variovis times, one hundred and eighty men, and thirty- 
one horses. A company of " Centinels," under Colonel Saltonstall, was 
posted at Bradford, from May 20th to October 7th ; and another at Ando- 
ver for the same time. 

Xo further damage was done by the enemy, until the next spring, when 
(May 22, 1707,) a small party killed and captured four persons at Oyster 
Eiver. On the 24th of June, Joseph and Ebenezer Page, sons of Joseph 
Page of this town, were killed by the Indians. In August, another attack 
was made on the town, in which Nathan Simonds, of this town, and Jon- 
athan Marsh, of Salem, were wounded.'- The particulars of these attacks 
on the town are now lost. In September, two persons were killed at 
Kingston and Exeter, and a party of Mohawks attacked the settlement at 
Oyster Eiver, killing eight of the inhabitants, and wounding another. 

For several months succeeding this, the enemy seemed to have forsaken 
the frontiers, and the inhabitants once more began to feel some degi-ee of 
security. But, early in the spring of 1708, intelligence was carried to 
Governor Dudley, at Boston, that an army, consisting of eight hundred 
men, was about marching for some one of the frontier settlements. Fpon 
the receipt of this, he " ordered guards in the most exposed places of both 
his provinces." A body of troops, under Captain Eobert Coffin, patrolled 
from Kingston to Cocheco, and scouts were ordered to be kept out 
continually. Four hundred Massachusetts Militia were posted in N. H. 
Province. The guard sent to this town, consisted of about forty men, 
accompanied with three officers, from Salem, — Major Tui'ner, (afterward 
Colonel, a principal merchant of that place, and for many years a member 
' of the council) , Captain Price, and Captain Gardner, and soon after their 
arrival, they were posted in the frontier houses and garrisons. The follow- 
ing account is copied froin Mirick : — 

" Early in the year, a grand council was held at Montreal, when an 
extensive engagement was agreed upon ; which was to be joined by the 
principal Indians of every tribe in Canada, the Abenakis tribe, one hundred 

State Archives, Vol. 8. 
28 



218 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

select French Canadians, and a number of volunteers, several of whom 
were officers in the French army, composing a formidable body of about 
four hundred men. The French were commanded by DeChaillons, and the 
infamous Hertel de Eouville, the sacker of Deerfield,-'' and the Indians by 
by La Perrierc. The Indians were merciless, insolent and revengeful; 
but the French at that period equalled, and we had almost said, exceeded 
them in acts of wantonness and barbarity. When the former were weary 
of murdering " poor, helpless women and children" — when they were 
glutted with blood, it is said that M. Vaudreuil, then Governor of Canada, 
employed the latter to do it.f 

To excite less surprise among the English, they divided their army into 
two bodies ; the French with the Algonquin, the St. Francois, and Huron 
Indians, were to take the route by the river St. Francois, and La Perrierc 
and the French Mohawks, were to pass by Lake Champlain. Lake 
Nickisipiguc was appointed the place of rendezvous, and there they were to 
meet the Norridgewock, the Penobscot, and other eastern tribes. J These 
arrangements being completed, they commenced their march the 16th of 
July ; but before the first named party had arrived at the St. Francois, 
a Huron was accidentally killed by a companion, which was considered by 
the tribe as an ill-omen, and that the expedition, though commenced under 
such favorable auspices, would certainly prove unfortunate. Strongly 
impressed with this idea, and not wishing to be connected with it if it 
should so prove, they deserted. The Mohawks then pretended that an 
infectious distemper had broken out among them, and that it would soon 
spread . among the rest of the tribes, if they remained — and they also 
returned. M. Vaudreuil, when he heard of this, immediately sent word to 
the French officers to proceed, and fall upon some of the English settle- 
ments, even if they should be deserted by the Algonquin and St. Francois 
tribes. Those, however, remained firm to their allegiance, and they 
continued their march ; but when they arrived at Nickisipigue, their 
rendezvous, what was their astonishment at finding that the eastern Indians 
had broken faith with them. 

It is said that their first design was to attack Portsmouth, and then, 
marching rapidly onward to other settlements, spread terror and desolation 

° Dccrfield was desolated in the winter of 1704. The French and Indians were commanded by this 
same Hertel de Eouville, whose name will ever be coni)led with infamy, assisted by four of his brothers ; 
all of whom had been trained up to the business by their father, whj had been a famous partizan in their 
former wars. They slaughtered forty-seven of the inhabitants, plundered the village, and set it on fire. 
They then retreated, carrying with them one hundred and twelve, as prisoners of war. Dr. Samuel 
Williams, the immediate descendant of one of the principal sufferers, and the accomidished historian of 
Vermont, has given an interesting account of the whole affair. 

t llutohinson. t Ibid, 



HISTORY OF HATERniLL. 219 

along the whole frontier. But being unable to accomplish this, on account 
of the unexpected desertions, they were obliged to mofiify their plan. 
Their whole force was now about 250, a small number when compared 
with that which started from Canada. Probably the French officers felt 
ashamed to return without effecting something, after they had been at so 
much trouble and expense ; accordingly, Haverhill, a compact village, 
consisting of about thirty houses, =■■' was selected for the slaughter. 

At the break of day, on the 29 th of August, they passed the frontier 
garrisons undiscovered, and were first seen near the pound, marching two 
and two, by -John Iveezar,| who was returning from Amesbury. He im- 
mediately ran into the village and alarmed the inhabitants, who seem to 
have slept totally unguarded, by firing his gun near the meeting-house. 
The enemy soon appeared, making the air ring with terrific yells, with a 
sort of whistle, which says tradition, could be heard as far as a horn, and 
clothed in all the terrors of a savage war-dress. They scattered in every 
direction over the village, so that they might accomplish their bloody work 
with more despatch. The first person they saw, was Mrs. Smith, whom 
they shot as she was flying from her house to a garrison. The foremost 
p'irty attacked the house J of Eev. Benjamin Eolfe, which was then garri- 
soned with three soldiers, and he, and a part of his beloved family, were 
suddenly awakened from their slumbers, only to hear the horrid knell for 
their departure. Mr. Kolfc instantly leaped from his bed, placed himself 
against the door, which they were endeavoring to beat in, and called on 
the soldiers for assistance ; but these craven-hearted men refused to give 
it, for they .were palsied with fear, and walked to and fro through the 

* Hutchinson. 

t This Keezar, the son of John Keezar, who was killed when Mrs. Dustin was captured, was a very 
eccentric man, and a jack of all trades. He was said to be exceedingly proud of his proficiency in walking 
leaping, and other manual exercises ; and, if tradition may be relied upon, he was certainly a great walker 
and leaper ; for it said that he walked to Boston and back again in one night, and jumped over a cart 
with two large pails full of milk in his hands. It was his custom to go from this town to Amesbury and 
pHch his tent on the side of a hill, where he worked at the trade of shoemaking, and lived in all respects, 
while there, like an austere hermit. Some say, that when he discovered the enemy, he was out to take in 
his horse, which, according to his custom, he had turned into his neighbor's field to feed. Others say they 
were discovered by one Hutchins, who was out to steal milk from his neighbor's cows. 

Another account says that the slaughter might have been prevented had it not been for the agitation of 
a young man, who, intending to start very early that morning for a distant town, went up on the Common 
to catch his horse, and while there, discovered the enemy advancing toward the village. He immediately 
hastened to the town, but in his extreme agitation, he thought only of the safety of the young lady to 
whom he had paid very particular attention some time previous. It is said that he passed through a part 
of the village, went directly to the abode of his mistress, and concealed her in a pile of boards. lie then, 
after seeing his own property safe, and which, perhaps, was all he possessed in the wide world, gave the 
alarm ; but the attack had already commenced. 

X Where Dr. Moses Nichols' house now stands. 



220 HISTORY OF IIAVERHILI.- 

chambcrs, crying and swinging their arms.'- Had they displayed but half 
the ordinary courage of men, no doubt they would have successfully de- 
fended the house. But, instead of that, they did not fire a gun, or even 
lift a finger toward its defence. The enemy finding their entrance stren- 
uously opposed, fired two balls through the door, one of which took eft'cct, and 
wounded Mr. Ilolfe in the elbow. They then pressed against it with their 
united strength, and Mr. Eolfe, finding it impossible to resist them any 
longer, fled precipitately through the house, and out at the back door. 
The Indians followed, overtook him at the well, and despatched him with 
their tomahawks, f They then searched every part of the house for plunder, 
and also for other victims, on whom they might inflict their savage cruelties. 
They soon found Mrs. Kolfe and her youngest child, Mchitable, and while 
one of them sunk his hatchet deep in her head, another took the infant 
from her dying grasp, and dashed its head against a stone near the door. 

Two of Mr. liolfe's children, about six and eight years of age,| were 
providentially saved by the sagacity and courage of Hagar, a negro slave, 
who was an inmate of the family. Upon the first alarm, she leaped from 
her bed, carried them into the cellar, covered them with two tubs, and 
then concealed herself The enemy entered the cellar and plundered it of 
every thing valuable. They repeatedly passed the tubs that covered the 
two children, and even trod on the foot of one, without discovering them. 
They drank milk from the pans, then dashed them on the cellar bottom, 
and took "meat from the barrel, behind which Hagar was concealed. § 

° Just what we might expect of such " hired hoys" as Colonel Noyes had sent to defend (!) the town, 
—Or. W. C. 

t Another account says that he was killed by one of the bullets shot through the door, and this we be- 
lieve is the prevailing opinion ; but we feel confident that it is untrue. We know that it is hard for others, 
as well as ourselves, to give up a tradition which we have often heard repeated by our neighbors, and by 
our fathers ; but in this case we think it must be done, if the truth is desired. W'hen we first began to 
devclope the atlair, we felt confident, almost to a certainty, that he was killed through the door, because 
every body said so; and indeed, we had so wi'ote it, and read it to a friend of ours, who agreed with us on 
that point, at least he made no objections to it. But while examining other affairs, we were shown some 
extracts from the manuscript account of Rev. Abiel Abbot, taken by him ft-om the lips of Judith Whiting, 
and which has been before mentioned in this work. Mrs. Whiting was eight years old when the attack 
happened, and when she gave the account to Mr. Abbot, though very aged, her faculties were unimpaired ; 
and she stated that he was shot through the elbow, ffed through the house, and was tomahawked at the 
well. We place much reliance on her statement, and no doubt, the story of Mr. Rolfe's being killed 
through the door, arose from the wound which he received in his elbow. It appears to us very probable 
that it :.hould. — Mirick, 

X Elizabeth, was afterward the wife of the Rev. Samuel Checkley, of Boston, and was the mother of 
the wife of Samuel Adams, the patriot. Mary became the wife of Colonel Estcs Hatch, of Dorchester. 

§ " Iler father's maid-servant hearing that the Indians were upon them, jumped from her bed, and with 
wonderful presence of mind, took two of the little daughters, who probably slept in the room with her, 
one in and the other 9, named Mary and Elizabeth, and fled with them into the cellar. There, under 
two large tubs, she concealed them, and then successfully eoBccaled herself." — Drake's History of Jiostotl. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 221 

Anna Whittaker, wlio was then living in the family of Mr. Eolfe, pro- 
bably as a nurse, concealed herself in an apple-chest, under the stairs, and 
escaped unharmed.-' But it fared differently with the cowardly soldiers- 
They earnestly begged for mercy, of their inhuman conquerors, but their 
cries were unheeded ; and when the massacre was over, their bodies were 
numbered with the slain. We can have no pity for the fate of such 
contemptible cowards. A man who will shrink from danger at such a time, 
and in such a situation, while he holds the weapons of defence in his hands, 
should be ranked with the reptile, and ever be looked upon with scorn by 
the world. The names of such, should sink in oblivion, or survive as 
memorials of surpassing infamy. 

The family of Thomas Hartshorne suffered as severely as that of Mr. 
Kolfe. He saw a party approaching to assault his house, which stood a 
few rods west of the meeting-house, and escaped out of it, followed by two 
of his sons, to call assistance ; but all three were shot dead immediately 
after leaving it. A third son was tomahawked as he was coming out at 
the door. Mrs. Hartshorne, with that presence of mind which is a 
characteristic of her sex, when surrounded with danger, instantly took the 
rest of her children — except an infant which she left on the bed in the 
garret, and which she was afraid would, by its cries, betray their place of 
concealment, if she took it with her — through a trap door into the cellar. 
The enemy entered the house, and began to plunder it, but happily did 
not discover them. They went into the garret, took the infant from its 
bed, and threw it out of the window. It fell on a pile of clapboards, and 
when the action was over, it was found completely stunned. It lived, 
however, and became a man of uncommon stature, and of remarkable 
strength. His neighbors would frequently joke him, and say that the 
Indians stunted him when they threw him from the garret- window.f 

One of the parties proceeded towards the river, and attacked the house 
of Lieutenant John Johnson.j Mr. Johnson and his wife, with an infant a 

*^ From the following extract, it would scein that Anna AA'hittaker afterward claimed for herself the 
credit of saving the children. The abo^c, however, has always been considered the correct version of the 
incident : — " Brpokfield, Sep 2-1, 1764. 

On the 8th Inst, died after a few Days illness, Mrs Anna JJcyward in the 74th Year of her Age, 
the Wife of Oliver Ileyward Esq. She has left by a former Husband {John Uincl) 13 Children, 82 
Grand-Children, and 17 Great-Grand-Children, in all 112. She was very useful as a Mid-wife, and in her 
last sickness she had a most unshaken Trust in the Mercy of God, through the Redeemer. In her Youth, 
when the Savages invaded HavcrUill, she saved two Children of the Ee^• Mr Molfe's, by hiding them ia 
the Cellar alter the Indians had entered the House wh'le they were glutting their Rage on the Parents : 
the two Indians followed he» into the Cellar, yet sucli was her Presence of i\Iind, and Dexterity, that she 
conceal'dthe Children and herself that they escaped their Notice; and they were the only Members of 
the Family at Home who survived the bloody Carnage." — From Massachusetts Gazette, Sej)t. 27, 1764. 

t Abbott's MSS. 

X Johnson's house stood on the spot now covered by the Exchange building, on Water Street. 



222 HISTORY OP IIAVEEHILL. 

year old in her arms, were standing at the door, when the enemy made 
their appearance. Mr. Johnson was shot, and his wife fled through the 
house into the garden,- carrying her babe, where she was overtaken by the 
foe, and immediately despatched. But when she fell, she was careful not 
to injure her child, and it seemed as if her last thoughts were for its 
safety. The enemy, it appears, did not murder it, and it is somewhat 
remarkable that they did not; for they always took great delight in 
torturing and dashing out the brains of innocent babes. Perhaps it was 
because the mother was not alive to witness its agonies. After the massa- 
cre was over, it was found at the breast of its dead mother, f 

Another party rifled and burnt the house of Mr. Silver, which stood 
within ten rods of the meeting house, and others attacked the watch-house, 
which was, however, successfully defended. Another party went to the 
house of Captain Simon Wainwright,J whom they killed at the first fire. 
The soldiers stationed in the chambers, were preparing to defend the house 
till the last, when Mrs. Wainwright fearlessly unbarred the door, and let 
them in. She spoke to them kindly, waited upon them with seeming 
alacrity, and promised to procure them whatever they desired. The enemy 
knew not what to make of this ; — the apparent cheerfulness with which 
they were received, and the kindness with which they were treated, was so 
different from what they expected to meet with, that it seemed to para- 
lyze their energies. They, however, demanded money of Mrs. Wainwright, 
and upon her retiring ' to bring it,' as she said, she fled with all her chil- 
dren, except one daughter who was taken captive, and were not afterwards 
discovered. The enemy, so soon as they saw how completely they had 
been deceived, were greatly enraged, and attacked the chambers with 
great violence ; but the soldiers courageously defended them, and after 
attempting to fire the house, they retreated, taking with them three pris- 
oners. In the mean-time, two Indians skulked behind a large stone, which 
stood in the field a few rods east of the house, where they could fire up- 
on its inmates at their leisure. The soldiers in the chambers fired upon 
them, and killed them both. They were afterwards buried in the same 
field, a few rods south, and but a few years since, the water washed their 
skeletons from their places of repose, § 

Two Indians attacked the house of Mr. Swan, which stood in the field 
now called AVhite's lot,l| nearly opposite to the house of Capt. Emerson. 

o Where the Osgood Block now stands. t Tradition. • 

X Captain Wainwright lived in a house which stood on the ground now covered by that of the late 

Captain Nehcniiah Emerson's, and directly opposite the Winter Street Church. — O. W. C. § Mirick. 
II ir/u'te's Lot was situated between White and Franklin Streets. Swan's house was probably very 

near the present site of the Winter Street Church. — G-. W. C. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 223 

Swan and his wife saw tliem approaching, and determined, if possible, to 
save their own lives, and the lives of their children, from the knives of the 
ruthless butchers. They immediately placed themselves against the door, 
which was so narrow that two could scarcely enter abreast. The 
Indians rushed against it, but finding that it could not be easily 
opened, they commenced their operations more systematically. One of 
them placed his back to the door, so that he could make 'his whole strength 
bear upon it, while the others pushed against him. The strength of the 
besiegers was greater than that of the besieged, and Mr. Swan, being 
rather a timid man, said our venerable narrator, almost despaired of sav- 
ing himself and family, and told his wife that he thought it would be bet- 
ter to let them in. But this resolute and courageous woman had no such 
idea. The Indians had now succeeded in partly opening the door, and one 
of them was crowding himself in, while the other was pushing lustily after. 
The heroic wife saw that there was no time for parleying — she seized her 
spit, which was nearly three feet in length, and a deadly weapon in the 
hands of woman, as it proved, and collecting all the strength she pos- 
sessed, drove it through the body of the foremost. This was too warm a 
reception for the besiegers — it was resistance from a source, and with a 
weapon they little expected ; and surely, who else would ever think of 
spitting a man ? — The two Indians, thus repulsed, immediately retreated 
and did not molest them again. Thus, by the fortitude and heroic courage 
of a wife and mother, this family was probably saved from a bloody 
grave. ^'^ 

One of the parties set fire to the back side of the meeting-house, a new 
and, for that period, an elegant building. These transactions were all per- 
formed about the same time ; but they were not permitted to continue 
their work of murder and conflagration long, before they became panic- 
struck. Mr. Davis, an intrepid man, went behind Mi-. Eolfe's barn, which 
stood near the house, struck it violently with a large club, called on men 
by name, gave the word of command, as though he were ordering an at- 
tack, and shouted with a loud voice, " Come on ! come on ! we will have 
them ! " The party in Mr. Eolfe's house, supposing that a large body of 

<* The account of this deed is received wholly from tradition. We heard it related hy an aged and 
venerahle gentleman, Captain Nehemiah Emerson, who has often heard it told by his grand-father, who 
then lived in the garrison of his father, Jonathan Emerson. — Miriclc 

The house of Nathan Simons was also attacked, and he was wounded in the arm, by a ball. Simons 
shot two Indians, when the others withdrew. From Sibley's History of Union, Me., we learn that there 
is a tradition in the Sibley family, that Samuel Sibley, from whom the settlers in Union are descended, 
was killed in this town at this time, whOe throwing water upon the meeting-house after it had been set 
on fire by the Indians. He belonged in Salem, and was probably one of the men under Major Turner at 
this time.— G. W. C. 



224 HISTORY OF nAVEIiniLL. 

the English had come upon them, began the cry of " The English are 
come ! "■' and after attempting to fire the house, precipitately left it. 
About this time, Major Turner arrived with a company of soldiers, and 
the whole body of the enemy then commenced a rapid retreat, taking with 
them a number of prisoners. The retreat commenced about the ris- 
ing of the sun. Meantime, Mr. Davis ran to the meeting-house, and 
with the aid of a few others, succeeded in extinguishing the devour- 
ing element ; but it was mostly owing to his exertions, that the house was 
saved. 

The town by this time was generally alarmed. Joseph Bradley collec- 
ted a small party, in the northerly part of it, and secured the medicine- 
box and packs of the enemy, which they had left about three miles from 
the village.! Capt. Samuel Ayer, a fearless man, and of great strength, 
collected a body of about twenty men, and pursued the retreating foe. He 
came up with them just as they were entering the woods, when they faced 
about, and though they numbered thirteen or more to one, still Capt. Ayer 
did not hesitate to give them battle. These gallant men were soon rein- 
forced by another party, under the command of his sonj ; and after a 
severe skirmish, which lasted about an hour, they retook some of the pris- 
oners, and the enemy precipitately retreated, leaving nine of their number 
dead.§ 

The French and Indians continued their retreat, and so great were their 
sufferings, arising from the loss of their packs, and their consecjuent ex- 

o Sketch of naverhill. — Saltonstall. 

t A short distance north of the house of Deacon Carleton, in the West Parish, and about half a mile 
north of the place where the subsequent skirniisli took place. — O. W. C. 

J The whole number is supposed to have been sixty or seventy. — G. W. C. 

§ The spot where this skirmish took place, was the rise of land nearly west of the house of S. Eaton 
Esq., about half way between the Derry Road and the Parsonage Road, and south-east of Long Hill, in the 
West Parish. Among the enemy who fell at this place, were Hcrtel of Chambly, and Vcrchcres, both 
officers of experience. In this bloody affair, the renowned chief Assacamhuit, or, as the French called 
him, Nescamhiimit, fought side by side with the French Commander-in-Chief, and is said to have per- 
formed prodigies of valor with the sword picsented to him by Louis XIV, of France, in 1706. The enemy 
had eighteen wounded ; and three Indians, and five Frenchmen killed. Assacamhuit was himself 
wounded in the foot by a shot. 

Smith, in his History of Canada, (Quebec, 1815, Vol. 1, p. 105,) gives the following aceount of this 
memoraUe attack on the town : — " The French army pushed on to the attack of a village, called Haverhill, 
in which was posted fifty soldiers, sent by the Governor of New England, in consequence of the information 
of the approach of a French force. The Village was attacked at day break, on the 29th day of August. 
was well defended by a small party of troops and by the inhabitants ; at length overpowered by numbers, 
the French took possession of it, having killed not less than one hundred men, and carried several into 
captivity. The French, on their return were pursued, and overtaken just as they were entering the woods, 
an action ensued which lasted about an hour, when the English were defeated and several were killed. 
The French luss, amounted only to eight men killed and eighteen wounded ; among the slain, were two 
oihcers, Ilcrtel de Chambly, Rouville's brother, and Vercheros." — G. W. C. 



HISTORY OF HATERHILL. 22o 

posure to famine, tliat many of the Frenclimen returned and surrendered 
themselves prisoners of war ; and some of the captives were dismissed, 
with a message that, if they were pursued, the others should be put to 
death. Perhaps, if they had been pursued, nearly the whole of their force 
might have been conquered ; for the Governor, in his address to the As- 
sembly, says, " we might have done more against them if we had followed 
their tracks." As it was, they left thirty of their number dead, in 
both engagements, and many were wounded, whom thc}'^ carried with them. 
The French, when they returned, reported very diiferently from this ; 
they said that they " faced about, and that our people, being astonished, 
were all killed or taken, except ten or twelve, who escaped." 

The inhabitants were now left to perform the sorrowful office of bury- 
ing their dead — and it was a sorrowful one indeed. The day was 
somewhat advanced when the battle was over, and it being extremely warm 
the interment was necessarily hurried. Coffins could not be made for all, 
and a large pit was dug in the burying ground, in which several of them 
were laid. Some of those who fell in the last engagement, it is presumed, 
were buried on the spot. 

The following is a list of the slain who belonged to this town ; perhaps 
it is not full, though we have taken great pains to make it so : — Eev. 
Benjamin Eolfe, his wife and one child; Mrs. Smith, Thomas Hartshorne 
and three sons ; Lieut. John Johnson and his wife, Catharine ; Capt. Simon 
"Wainwright ; Capt. Samuel Ayer ; John Dalton ; Euth Ayer, wife of 
Thomas Ayer, and one daughter; and Euth Johnson, wife of Thomas 
Johnson. The whole number is sixteen. We have not been able to collect 
the names of those who were taken prisoners, or the exact number. Mr. 
Pike, in his Joui*nal, says that the enemy ' killed and carried away 33 
persons, and burnt several houses.' Mr. Hutchinson says ' about forty ' 
were killed and taken prisoners ; perhaps the truth would fall between. 
A daughter of Capt. Simon Wainwright, who was not so fortunate as to 
escape with her mother, when she fled with the rest of her children, was 
made prisoner ; and in 1710, her mother, Mary, petitioned the General 
Court to redeem her. The following is her petition : — 

" Haverhill, 29th April, 1710. 

To his Excellency, Joseph Dudley, Captain-General and Governor in 
chief, &c., &c., to the Honorable council and General Assembly now mett; 
the petition of Mary Wainwright sheweth that, whereas my daughter hath 
been for a long time in captivity with the French of Canada, and I have 
late reason to fear that her soul is in great danger if not already capti- 
vated and she brought to their way ; therefore I humbly intreate your 



226 HISTOKY OF nAVERIIILL. 

Excellency, that some care may be taken for her redemption before Canada 
be so endeared to her that I shall never have my daughter more. Some 
arc ready to say that there are so few captives in Canada that it is not 
worthe while to put the country to the charges for them ; but I hope your 
Excellency, nor any other good, judicious man, will think so; for St. Jamea 
has instructed us, as you may see, chapter 5, v 20 — Let him know that he 
which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul 
from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. This is all I can do at 
present, but I desire humbly to begg of God that he would direct the hearts 
of our rulers to do that which may be most for his glory and for the good 
of his poor distressed creatures, and so I take leave to subscribe myself 
your most humble petitioner, Widow Mary Wainwright. 

In the house of Representatives read and recommended 12th June." 

One of the soldiers, Joseph Bartlett, stationed at Capt. Wainwright's 
house, was also taken prisoner ; " he was a native of Newbury, was born 
18th November, 1G86, taken prisoner 29th August, 1708, returned 8th 
November, 1712, and died 1754, aged GS. After his return, he published 
a narrative f of his captivity, and perhaps the History of Haverhill will 
not be deemed an improper place to give a short account of him. 

♦In the year 1707 — says the narrative — in November 1, Joseph 
Bartlett was pressed and sent to Haverhill. My quarters were in the 
house of Capt. Waiudret, [wright.] August 29, 1708, there came about 
100 French and oO Indians J and beset the town of Haverhill — set fire 
to several houses; among which was that of Capt. W,' After the enemy 
entered the house, they took him and another soldier, named Newmarsh, 
and the daughter of Mrs. Wainwright, prisoners. Soon after the different 
parties commenced their retreat, they knocked one of their prisoners in 
head, named Lindall, a soldier belonging to Salem. He then says: 
' They then marched on together, when Capt. Eaires (Ayer,) with a small 
company waylaid and shot upon them, which put them to flight, so that 
they did not get together again until three days after.' Bartlett said 
that he was first taken by the French, but after the battle they gave him 
to the Indians. The three first days they travelled hard. 

He was compelled to carry a heavy pack, and travel with his hands tied 
behind him. A part of the time he was led by an Indian, who carried a 
hatchet in his hand and a pistol in his girdle, with a cord tied about his 



o John Gyles, of Lynn, one of Major Turner's soldiers was wounded in the attack. 
t We have never seen but one copy of this narrative, and that was obtained for us by John Farmer, 
Esq., of Concord. 

t Most of the accounts agree in statin? that there was about two hundred and fifty of the enemy. 



HISTORY OF HAVEUHILL. 227 

neck. On arriving at Lake Winnipiseoge, the French and Indians parted. 
The latter crossed the Lake ; but before they reached the opposite shore, 
they killed a bear which was swimming in the water, towed it to the 
shore and cooked it. They then fared sumptuously, and remained in that 
place about a day and a half, when they proceeded on their journey, and 
travelled five days, with scarcely any other sustenance than pounded corn. 
Having arrived at a river, the Indians made some canoes in a day and a 
half, when they sailed down the stream three days, eating nothing for four, 
but a few sour grapes and thorn plums. They then killed a hawk and 
divided it among fifteen — the head fell to the share of Mr. Bartlett, which, 
he says, " was the largest meal I had these four days." From thence they 
proceeded to Chamble, and on their passage they met with some Indians 
who gave them a little corn and a few pumpkins. He there saw an 
Englishman, named Littlefield, taken from Wells. The Indians shaved 
the hair from one side of his head, greased the other, and painted his face. 
They then started for Montreal, and when they arrived, he was examined 
by the Governor, and from thence went to the house of a Roman Catholic 
Priest, where he lodged over night. The next morning they started for an 
Indian fort, nine miles distant. When about half way, they came to a fire, 
surrounded by 'fifteen men and thirty boj^s,' where they held a consulta- 
tion about burning him ; but before it was closed, the Indians, who owned 
him, and the boys, marched away. Soon as they arrived at the fort, they 
began to abuse their prisoner — a squaw cut off his little finger, and 
another beat him with a pole. The Indians danced and sung all night, 
and invited him to join them, but he refused ; they pulled him into the 
ring, however, and he went once round it. An Indian then came to him, 
and, after making a long speech, gave him to an old squaw, who took 
him to her wigwam. In February next, he went to live with a French- 
man, named Delude, and remained with him until Sunday, October 5, 
1712, when he started to return to his friends in Newbury, and arrived 
on the 8th of November, after a captivity of four years, two months, and 
nine days. 

After his return, the General Court ordered that ' the sum of £20. 15s. 
be allowed and paid to Joseph Bartlett in full of his petition of charges 
and expenses to obtain his liberty from the Indians, being taken prisoner 
by the Indians at Haverhill when in her Majesties service in the year 
1708, and for his support during four years captivity and for the loss of 
his arms.' 

Mr. Pike, in his Journal, says that ' many soldiers belonging to Salem, 
were here slain.' Among them was William Coffin, who distinguished 



228 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

himself for his bravery ; and soon after, his widow petitioned the General 
Court fur relief, when it passed the following resolve : — 

' Nov. 3, 1708. — Kosolved that the sum of £5 be allowed and paid out 
of the publick Treasury to the Petitioner, Mrs. Sarah Coffin, on account of 
the remarkable forwardness and courage which her husband, AVilliam 
Coffin of Salem, distinguished himself by, in the action at Haverhill 
where he was slain.' 

Mr. Eolfe, his wife and child, were buried in one grave, near the south 
end of the burial-ground. A single monument was erected to their mem- 
ory, on which Avas chiselled an inscription for each ; but the hand of time 
has been rough with them — they arc overgrown with moss, and the epi- 
taphs are now almost illegible.-' 

The following is the epitaph of Mr. Eolfe: — 

* Clauditur hoc tumulo corpus lieverendi pii doctique viri, D. Benjamin 
Rolfe, ecclesice Christ i qtfce est in haver hill pastoris Jidelissimi ; qui domi 
Slice ad hostibiis harhare trucidatus. A laboribiis siiis requieiiit mane diei 
sacrce quietis, Aug. XXIX anno domini, MDCCVIII. u3^tatis suae 

XLVi:\ 

This worthy man was born at Newbury, 1662. and graduated at Cam- 
bridge, 1684r. He seems to have been a pious and upright man, ardently 
devoting his time and talents to forward the cause of his Saviour. He 
was respected and beloved b}'^ his people, and we cannot learn that any 
difficulty arose between them, after his settlement. 

The grave-stones of Capt. Ayer, Capt. Wainwright, and Lieut. Johnson, 
are nigh to Mr. Eolfe's but are considerably damaged, and their inscrip- 
tions have become nearly illegible. 

° In 1847-8, a neat and substantial granite monument was erected over the grave of Mr. Rolfe, by the 
Ladies, who Avere then ronking much needed inipvovcments in tlie " Old Burying Ground." The monu-" 
ment stands about six and one-half feet highr is of Concord, N. H., granite, and was finished at the 
establishment of Mr. F. A. Brown, in this town. It bears the following inscription ;— 

" Enclosed in this tomb, is the body of a man, pious, learned and reverend, BENJAMIN ROLFE, a 
most faithful Pastor of the Church of Christ in Haverhill; who was barbarously slain by the Indians at 
his own house. He rested from his labors on the morning of the Sabbath, tlie 20th of Aug in the year of 
our Lord 1708, and of his age the 4Gth. (On the second side) .Airs .Alehitable Rolfe, aged 44 yrs. 
Mehitablc Rolfe, aged 2 yrs. AVere slain Aug 29, 1708. (On the third side) Capt Samuel Ayer, Capt 
Simon AVainwright, Lieut John Johnson, were slain, with thirteen others, Aug. 29, 1708. (On the fourth 
side) Clauditur hoc tumulo corpus reverendi, pii, viri, Benjamin Rolfe, ecclesla; Christi qua; est in 
Haverhill, pastoris fidelissimi ; qui domi suasc ab hostibus barbare trucidatus. 

E laboribus suis rcquievit mane diei sacred quietis Aug XXIX Anno Domini MDCCVllI iEtatis 
suic XLA'I." 

Rev. Benjamin Rolfe, married Mehitabcl Atwatcr, March 12, 1693-4. « hildren, — Mary, March 9, 1G9.5 ; 
Benjamin, September 2, 1690: John, July 2, 1698, died August 3, 1098; John and Elizabeth, twins, 
September 1, 1099, (John died September 18, 1099) ; Francis, January 16, 1702.— G. AV. C. 

t " Inclosed in this tomb is the body of the reverend, pious, ct learned Benjamin Rolfe, the faithful 
pastor of the Church of Christ in Haverhill ; who was barbarously slain in nis own house by the enemy. 
He rested from his labors early on the day of sacred rest, Aug 29, 1708, in the 4Cth year of his age." 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 229 

, Capt. Ayer was slain in tlie last engagement, before the reinforcement 
arrived. He was shot in the groin, and being a large, robust man, bled 
profusely. When his son arrived, he was told that his father was killed, 
and the informant pointed him out. He looked at the corpse a while, as 
it lay on the grass, all covered with blood, and told his informant that 
that person could not be his father, for he (meaning the person slain,) had 
on a pair of red breeches. Capt. Ayer was one of the Selectmen, a Dea- 
con of the church, and one of the most worthy, active and intelligent 
citizens of the town. He lived near the house of Capt. John Ayer, 2d =■' 
Lieut. Johnson was also a Deacon of the church, and was an active and 
useful citizen. He is supposed to be descended from Capt. Edward Johu^ 
son, the author of the ' Wonder Working Providence- of Zion's Saviour ' 
in Xew England, and who, in company with Jonathan Ince, of Cambridge, 
and Sergeant John Sherman, of Watertown, surveyed the northern bounds 
of the Patent of Massachusetts, in 1652. 

Captain Wainwright came from Ipswich ; he had two brothers, John and 
Francis. His father, whose name was Francis, came from Chelmsford, in 
England, when a boy, and died about 1G90. He is particularly noticed 
in the Pequot war, where he was simultaneously attacked by two Indians, 
and while defending himself broke the stock of his gun ; he then used the 
barrel, and finally killed them both. 

Captain Wainwright was a high-minded and influential citizen. He 
was supposed to be very rich, and there is a tradition which states that he 
had a large chest filled with dollars — and that he offered a man the whole 
if he would extract one of them with his fingers. The man " jiulled and 
tugged," as our informant said, with all his strength, but alas ! the thing 
was impossible, and he was obliged to leave it, and be satisfied with only 
looking at the precious stuff. It was also said that he buried much of his 
money, and a part of the field south of Captain Nehemiah Emerson's house, 
has been dug over, for the purpose of finding it. The large oak-tree, near 
Little River, has been twice dvig around for the same object, within the 
remembrance of many of our citizens; but the tantalizing dreams of the 
" money-diggers," it is believed, were never realized."! 

The 29th day of August, 1708, will ever be remembered by the inhabi- 
tants of Haverhill, as that of the last, and the most formidable attack 

* Near the west end of Plug Pond. 

t The field here alluded to is now almost completely covered with dwelling houses, it being that part of 
the village bounded by Little River on the south and west, Winter Street on the north, and the easterly 
line of the lots on the easterly side of Emerson Street on the cast. The old oak tree is yet standing, near 
the south w est corner of Emerson Street. — G. W. C. 



230 HISTOEY OF UAVERIIILL. 

made upon the town during the long years of troubles with the Indians and 
their allies. 

There was an alarm in the town on the night of the 25th of the following 
month, but, fortunately, no attack was made. Colonel Saltonstall, in a letter 
to the Governor and Council, under date of the 27th, informs them "that 
a party of the enemj', to the number of about thirty, were discovered in the 
town on Saturday night, but that he soon gave the alarm, drew a number 
of soldiers together, and had repelled and driven them back without 
suffering any loss." 

The Boston News Letter, of October 4, (1708,) thus alludes to the 
affair: — " In our last we mentioned a second attempt upon Haverhill ; it 
issues thus ; that some few sculking Indians were discovered in the Town 
in the night, and the alarm being made, they were soon frighted, and 
drew off without doing any mischief."" 

The distressed condition of the town after this terrible visitation, induced 
them to petition the General Court, for an abatement of their taxes, — 
which was granted. The following was their petition : — 
" The Petition of Ye Subscribers humbly showeth. 

That whereas ye llighteous and Holy God hath been pleased in ye dis- 
pensation of his Providence to suffer ye Enemy to break in upon us, »& 
by their violent Assaults & Depredations to make desolate several of ye 
best of our habitations in Haverhill, Damnifying us to ye value of about 
1000 : lb beside (which is more) loss of lives, thereby reducing us to great 
extremity and distraction, discouraging of hearts of many amongst us who 
are upon designs & endeavors to remove, whereby our condition is rendered 
in some measure comparable to yt of David's & ye men with him when 
Ziklag was Spoiled. Considering also in conjunction therewith ye extreem 
charges we must be exposed unto (if our town stands) in building strong 
Garrisons. Now settling a Mimister. The great obstructions against 
carrying on our dayly occasions, with other difficult cii'cumstances attend- 
ing us too tedious here to enumerate. We makbold to spread our case 
before Yor Hours supplicating your Heedful & compasionate Regards 
thereto, so far to Alleviate us, as to grant unto us a Release from yt part 
of ye Tax to her Majesty wh is set upon us this year. And hoping yt of 
yr wonted Clemency & Candor you will not pass by our Sufferings & 
Sorrows as those yt are unconcerned. We beg yr favor & pardon, & Leave 

* The only other losses by the Indians this season, were the foUowins : — May 8th, four captured at 
Exeter, and one killed at Oyster River; July 22d, three killed and two captured at the latter place, four 
children captured at Exeter, and two killed and the same number captured at Kingston. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 231 

to say, yt your G-ratification of our request will strengthen those bonds of 
obligation to Duty & Service which are already upon us who freely sub- 
scribe ourselves 

Yor Humble Servts & petitionrs. 
Haverhill (^ , . f Jonathan Emerson 

Dated Octobr n „ i -n -s Jouathan Eatton 

18 1708. ^^ Haverhill l^y-^^-^^^ Johnson." 

The Court ordered the sum of thirty pounds to be abated from their tax. 

September 15th, (1708) a meeting was called to see about a new minis- 
ter, and a committee was chosen to supply the pulpit, " for the present, & 
for the coming winter." The committee engaged a Mr. Nicholas Seaver, 
who preached regularly until the next February, (7th) when a meeting was 
called " about a minister, as Mr Sever'stime was near out that he promised 
to stay." The town formally thanked Mr. Seaver for his pains and labor 
in the work among them ; desired his continuance and settlement ; and 
chose a committee to confer with him about the matter. March 1st, 
another meeting was called, at which it was voted to pay Mr. Seaver 
annually twenty pounds in money, and forty pounds in corn, as money, if 
he would settle in the town. 

Two weeks afterward, they voted to add one hundred pounds in money 
to their former offer, "to be improved by him in settling himself with a 
house," and allow him the use of all the parsonage land. This was indeed 
a very liberal offer, and the fact that but four persons dissented from it, 
shows that Mr. Seaver was highly esteemed by the people of the town. 

June 14th, another meeting was held to see about settling Mr. Seaver, 
at which the town voted to give him four contributions annually, and 
twenty cords of wood, in addition to what they had previously offered 
him. They then adjourned to the 2 1st, when Mr. Seaver's proposals were 
received, read, and declined. The records do not inform us what his pro- 
posals were. 

Mr. Seaver did not continue to preach in town after his proposals were 
declined. He was succeeded by Kev. Mr. Brown, who gave such complete 
satisfaction to the church and the people, that "At a church meeting in 
Haverhill, Voted that the thanks of this church be returned to the Eev. 
Mr. Eichard Brown for his labors with us in the work of the ministry 
hitherto, and that they desire his continuance with us still in that work in 
order to a settlement. And by a unanimous vote, not one person then 
present dissenting the Eev. Mr. Eichard Brown was made choice of to be 
their minister and Pastor if he may be obtained." 

This is the earliest record now preserved of a church meetivg in the 
town. 



232 HISTORY OF HAVERniLL. 

The same day, a town meeting was held, at which it was unanimously 
voted to "concur with the church" in its selection of Mr. Brown for a 
minister, and a committee was chosen to treat with him, and also to treat 
with the administrator for the purchase of the late Mr. Eolfe's house." 

December 7th, the committee reported upon the latter proposition, and 
the town voted to purchase the house. The price paid for the house, 
and all his land, was three hundred pounds. 

At this meeting, fifteen pcrsonsf had liberty "to build a scat to sit in, 
in. the hind seat of the meeting house, in the west gallery, they also prom- 
ising that they would not build so high as to damnify the light of them 
■jyindows at the said west end of the said west gallery," provided they 
made up the number of twenty persons to sit in said seat. 

At the next meeting, eight others| had leave " to build a pew in the 
hinder seat of the front gallery ;" and thirteen young ladies§ were granted 
permission " to build a pew in the hind seat in the east end of the meeting 
house gallery," provided, as in the first mentioned case, they did not 
*' damnify or hinder the light." 

The following is equally curious: — "John "White desiring leave to set 
up a shed on the outside of the window at the west end of the meetinghouse 
to keep out the heat of the sun there, it was readily granted." (Query, — 
"Were window curtains then unknown ?) 

Another Commoners' meeting was held in the spring of this year, (1709) 
at which John "White, the Town Clerk, was chosen "Proprietors Clerk," 
and it was decided to hold a meeting on the first Tuesday in April, annu- 
ally. From the record of this meeting it appears, that at the first meeting, 
the previously chosen committee had reported the names of all those who 
were entitled to vote as proprietors of the common land. The same per- 
son being clerk for the town, and also for the Commoners, the record of 
their meetings was kept in the town's book of records until April 13th, 
1713, T/hen they commenced keeping them in a separate book, and so 
continued to keep them, until they ceased to meet, as such. 

Mr. Brown, for reasons not given, declined to accept the call to settle in town. He preached here 
twenty-four Sabbaths, and was succeeded by Rev. Joshua Gardner. 

t Nathaniel Merrill, Samuel Roberts, Henry Sanders, John Corlist, Joseph Hutchins, Nathanifel 
Clement, Samuel Watts, Nathaniel Merrill, Jr., John Mulckin, William Smith, John Silver, Thomas 
Silver, John Reivy, Ephraim Roberts, Jr., William Whittier. 

The following afterward joined with them:— Samuel Haseltine, Edward Carleton, Abell Merrill, 
Nathaniel Emerson, Jr., John Lad. 

1 John Ela, Samuel Ela, Ebenezer Eatton, Robert Slackman, Samuel Peaty, Jonathan Clark, Samuel 
Currier, Jr., Hope Rogers. 

§ Abig.iU Duston, Abigail Mitchell, Abigail Lad, Mary^rli.% Elizabeth Watts, Mary Mitchell, Sarah 
Peasly, Elizabeth Simons, Susannah Hartshorn, Abiah Clement, Abigail Simons, Bethiah Bodwell, Sarah 
Merrill, 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 233 

With the following, from Mirick, we close our record of this year : — 
" The house of Col. Richard Saltonstall was blown up by a negro wench, 
on the night of the 29th of March. In Mr. Pike's journal, it is mentioned 
thus : — ' Colo. Saltonstall's house blown up by negroes 29th March, 1709. 
Though many lodged that night in the house, yet nobody hurt. A mar- 
vellous providence.' Tradition has hoarded many stories concerning this 
affair, some of which are extremely ridiculous. The following, it is be- 
lieved, is a true statement of the case. It appears that the Col. had 
severely corrected the wench, some time previous, for misbehaviour, and 
ever after, she cherished a feeling of hatred toward him, and determined 
to take signal revenge. In the dead of night, on the 29th, when the house 
was wrapped in a profound stillness, she carried a quantity of powder into 
the room, directly under that which was then occupied by the Col. and his 
wife. Having fixed a long train and connected it with the powder, she 
dropt a match upon it and fled precipitately to the farm-house, which stood 
but a few rods distant. She had scarcely secured herself, when the pow- 
der went off with a tremendous explosion, and nearly or quite demolished 
the house. The Col. and his wife were thrown in their Ked some distance 
from the house, without receiving any injury. The soldiers stationed in 
the house, were scattered in every direction, but happily, no lives were 
lost. The Col., after recovering from his surprise, went directly to the 
farm-house and found his servants all up, excepting this wench, who feigned 
sleep. He suspected and charged her with the deed, but it could never 
be proved." 

30 



234 HISTORY OF HAVERHILU 



CHAPTER XV. 



1710 TO 1722. 



At a meeting of tlie town, May 15, 1710, it was unanimously Totcd, to 
invite Eev. Joshua Gardner to settle in town, and, at the same time, the 
thanks of the town were tendered him " for his labors hitherto." 

We find nothing more about his settlement, until October, when a church 
meeting was held, to consider the matter, at which he was unanimously 
made choice of ; and, at a town meeting, the same day, this action of the 
church was unanimously concurred in. The salary voted him was seventy 
pounds per annum, payable " one half in good passable money, & the rest 
in good merchantable corn, at money price, or in good passable money, & 
the use of all the Parsonage Housing & lauds & meadous." 

This offer, though not so large as the one made Mr. Seaver, seems to 
have been satisfactory to Mr, Gardner, as may be seen from the following 
letter, which was read at a town meeting December 11th, and " very well 
accepted " : — 

" To the church and inhabitants of Haverhill. 
Dearly beloved in Christ 

Being informed by your Committee that it is your unanimous desire 
that I should settle with you for the carrying on the work of the ministry 
among you ; and also what you have freely voted to do for my mainten- 
ance : I have taken the matter into consideration, and advised with my 
friends upon it, who universally encourage me to accept the invitation. 
Therefore apprehending that providence does as it were thrust me forth 
into his harvest, and finding a greater inclination & more encouragment of 
late to enter upon the work than formerly, my thoughts are, I am bound 
in duty to give up myself to the service of Christ in the work of the min- 
istry among you fearing if I should do otherwise God would be displeased 
with me. 

I do therefore hereby declare that I do cheerfully, and that not without 
a sense of my* own insufficiency for so great & solemn a work, endeav- 
ouring to place my entire dependence upon God for direction & assistance 
to carry it on — accept your invitation on the terms you propose. 

Thankfully acknowledging your kind acceptance of my labors with you 
hitherto ; likewise your respect & love shown me in your late invitation & 
proposals ; earnestly begging your prayers to God for me that he will abxin^ 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



235 



dantly furnish me with all needful qualifications for the work I trust he is 
calling me unto ; and that I may come unto you in the fulness of the 
blessing of the Gospel of Christ 

I take leave to subscribe myself your brother in Christ 

Joshua Gardner." 

Mr. Gardner was ordained the 10th of January, 1711, the town paying 
all the expenses of the occasion, — amounting to twelve pounds. 

Though the town had not been troubled by the Indians for above two 
years, yet they did not think it prudent to relax their vigilance, — at 
least, so far as their means of defence werc concerned. Their garrisons, 
and houses of refuge, were kept in complete order for occupation at a mo- 
ment's notice, and the parsonage house was repaired and fortijiedp 

A large company of soldiers, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel 
Saltonstall, were also kept constantly armed and equipped, and exercised 
in the town ; and, that these soldiers might be the better prepared for 
every emergency, the General Court (June 19. 1,710,) ordered them to be 
supplied with snow shoes. Snow shoes were also supplied to the whole of 
the Xorth Kegiment of Essex, The names of the snow shoe men in Hav- 
erhill, were 



Thomas Whittier, 
John Eaton, 
Joseph Emerson, 
Christopher Bartlett, Jr., 
Joseph Bond, 
Anthony Colby, 
Nathaniel Duston, 
Samuel Dow, 
Ephraim Davis, 
Jonathan Eaton, 
Job Eaton, 
John Ela, 
JPeter Green, Sen., 
Ephraim Gilc, 
Matthew Harriman, Jr., 
Josiah Heath, Jr., 
John Hutching, Jr., 
Andrew Michel, 
John Marsh, 



John Page, Jr., 
Nathan Simons, 
John "Webster, 
Daniel Lad, Jr., 
Jonathan Eastman, 
Samuel Eobards, 
James Ayer, 
Edward Ordway, 
Elisha Davis. 
William Davis, 
Abraham "VMiittiker, 
Jonathan Simons, 
Eobert Hunkius, 
Joseph Bradley, 
Ephraim Eobards, 
.John Heath, Jr., 
Benjamin Page, Jr., 
John Shepard, 
Nathaniel Smith, 



Stephen Emerson, 
Stephen Johnson, 
Jonathan Hendrick, 
Samuel Huckins, 
Adum Draper, 
Eichard AVhittier, 
John AVatts, 
Stephen Davis, 
Eobert I'easly, 
Joshua Padington, 
Samuel Ayer, 
William AVhittaker, 
John Heseltiue, 
William Johnson, 
Abraham Bradley, 
Samuel Davis, 
Thomas Johnson, 
John Stevens. 



® The expense of repairing the parsonage was eleven pounds fourteen shillings and six pence. Among 
the items in the bill we find — Clear white pine boards, at five shillings and eight pence per hundred ; 
plank, at seven shillings per hundred; labor, at three shillings per day; and large board nails at one 
shilling and four pence per hundred. Among the bills of the year, we find one for a barrel of cidir for 
the minister, the price of which was five shillings and six pence; and one for the services of the Town 
Clerk for the past year, Un shillings. 



236 HISTORY OF iiaveriiill. 

At the annuiil meeting for 1711, the Selectmen were ordered to hire a 
Grammar School master, who was " to move quarterly to such places as 
the Selectmen agree to, as shall be most convenient for the inhabitants of 
the town." It seems that no school-master could be found who would move 
quarterly, and after trying for six months to hire one, another meeting was 
called, and a proposition submitted that the town pay a teacher five pounds 
to keep a school one (parter at the school-house. This was voted down 
immediately, — probably by those who lived at a distance from the village, 
and who desii'cd to share with the villagers in the advantages of such a 
school, as will appear hereafter. 

From the bills approved this year, we learn that Obadiah Ayer kept a 
school half a year in 1710, for which he was paid fifteen pounds. He also 
kept this year, the same length of time. It was not, however, what they 
called a Grammar School, as only " reading, writing and cyphering" were 
included in the list of studies. 

Some idea of the extent, as well as location, of the Cow Common, as 
first laid out, may be formed from the following vote of the Commoners, 
April 3, 1711 : — 

" Voted and granted that the Cow Common may be fenced in from the 
Pond Bridge & so by Ephraim Guile's, and as far as the river runs by 
Ephraim Eoberts sawmill, and so to Tho Duston's :" Those that fence it 
in to set up convenient gates for passage with teams; one at the Pond 
Bridge, one at Ephraim Guile's, one at Tho Duston's, one gate by Samuel 
Smith's house, another by Stephen Dow's on the Wid: Bromege's, and 
another, if need be, at the lane by Jonathan Emerson's : This Common to 
be improved by those that fence it in, & not others, for the feeding of cows, 
sheep, & riding horses, & no other cattle, for this year & until the Com- 
moners shall take further order." 

A meeting of the Commoners was called October 15th, to consider about 
making some more stringent regulation in relation to the " transporting of 
timber, staves, and firewood" out of town. The vote of the town, passed 
in 1674, being read, it was declared that it could not well be mended, and 
therefore nothing further was done. 

John Swett, a native of Newbury, was this year appointed ferryman at 
the Rocks ; — hence the name of " Swett's ferry." It is believed that there 
were then no more than two houses at that place ; and, indeed, the whole 
town had increased but very little, if any, in population, during the last 

" Th«t is, the fence followed the utrenm from the ontkt of the Great Pond, arounil to Tho Duston's, — 
or near the junction of Fishing nud Little Rivers. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 237 

thirty years. Strangers would not move into it, on account of the danger 
arising from the Indian war, and it is probable that those who sickened and 
died, and those who were slain by the enemy, nearly equalled the births. 

The only damage done by the Indians this year, was at Cocheco (Dover) 
in the spring, when five persons were killed. But the constant fear of 
them caused a strong force to be kept in the frontier towns. As late as 
August 27, 1712, a foot company of fifty men was ordered to be raised, 
and posted at Haverhill. 

At the annual meeting for 1712, several persons''^ applied for an abate- 
ment of their taxes for the ministry, and the school, on account of the great 
distance they lived from the Town, and the difficulty they met with in 
coming. The town voted to abate one half of their ministry rates. 

This year the town was again presented for being destitute of a school- 
master, and on the 12th of May, Nathaniel Haseltine was chosen to appear 
at the Court of Gleneral Sessions, held at Salem, to answer it. Nothing 
further was done in this matter until the following March, when the town 
refused to give the Selectmen power to hire a school-master, and thus the 
subject rested until June, when a meeting was called to see what should be 
done about schools in town. 

By a law of 1700, every town of fifty families and upwards was required 
to be coustanly provided with a school-master to teach children to read 
and write ; and every town of one hundred and fifty families was required 
to have a free grammar school, where youth could be instructed "in such 
grammar learning as may fit them for admittance into the college." 

Previous to this time, there had been but one place in town for a school 
— in the village — and, as a matter of course, those who lived in distant 
parts of the town could have but little benefit from it. That this disad- 
vantage was felt, is seen from the vote, in 1711,— to engage a school-master 
who should " move quarterly." But now the question assumed a more 
definite form. Petitions were received from several of the inhabitants,! 
for a school house in the northwest part of the town, near Job Clements' 
at the town's cost, and a school one quarter of a year, " that they might 
have the benefit of having their children brought up to learning as well 
as the children of those that live in the center of the Town; " and also 

" Henry Bodwell, John ftuttersou, Thomas Austin, Joshua Stephens, Robert Swan, John Cross, William 
Cross, Robert Swan, Jr., Joshua Swan. These all lived In that part of the t'bwn now Methuen. 

t Joseph Emerson, Mathcw Herriman, Jobe Clements, Joseph Heath, John Stephens, Aaron Stephens, 
Ephraim Roberts, Josiah Heath, sen.. Benjamin Emerson, Josejjh Johnson, Samuel Worthen, James 
Heath, Thomas Johnson, William Whittiker, John Simons, Josiah Heath. 



238 HISTORY OP nAVERIIILL. 

from several of the inhabitants in the north-easterly part of the town/- for 
a school-house and school "near the house of Mr John Whittier, on the 
common, between the two bridges, & between the house of Danl Ela, and 
the Country road." Both petitions were granted ; and the selectmen were 
ordered to provide a school-master : and a committee was chosen to build 
the school-houses immediately. The latter were to be " 20 ft long, 16 ft 
wide, & 8 ft stiid, & furnished so as may be comfortable & convenient." 

Mr. Ayer kept the school in the town this summer, and a Mr. Stedman, 
of Cambridge, kept the succeeding fall and winter. 

Hostilities having ceased in Europe early in this year, the Indians again 
expressed a desire for j)eace, and a treaty was entered into with them at 
Portsmouth, which was attended by delegates from the tribes on the St. 
John, Kennebeck, Ameriscoggin, Saco, and Merrimack, and articles of 
pacification were duly signed July 18th, 1713, and were formally con- 
firmed, with loud demonstrations of joy, by a great body of Indians who 
were assembled at Falmouth, waiting the result. Thus was peace once 
more permitted to smile on the New England frontiers. 

By the terms of this treaty, the English were allowed to enter upon 
their former settlements, without molestation or claim on the part of the 
Indians, while to the latter was reserved the right of hunting, fishing and 
fowling, as freely as they enjoyed in 1693 ; and government was to estab- 
lish convenient trading houses for the Indians, where they might obtain 
their supplies without the fraud and extortion which had been practiced 
in former years. f The next spring, a ship was sent to Quebec, to exchange 
prisoners. 

Among the town votes of 1713, we find one in which the selectmen and 
constables were ordered " to regulate the conduct of disorderly boys on 
the Sabbath, in the meeting house." From this it is evident that boys 
were — hoys, as long ago, at least, as the time of our great-grand-parents. 

At the annual meeting in 1714, Eobert Swan petitioned for permission 
to keep a ferry near his house, but the town declined to grant the request. 

Another petition was received at this meeting for permission to build a 
"women's pew" in the meeting house.f The place proposed was "the 
hind seat in the women's gallery." The matter was left with the Selectmen. 

o John Sanders, Robert Ilustings, Anthony Colbie, Joseph Whittier, James Snnders, Robert Hcnkins, 
Samuel Currii-r, John Currier, John Page, Jr., Robert Hastings, Jr., Jonathan Peasly, T3enjamin Page, 
Jr., Daniel Ela, Benjamin Page, Sen., Abraham Page, Thomas Johnson, Jr., Joseph Qrcly, John George, 
John Kleh. 

t Hutchinson estimates that, "from 1875 to 1713, 5 to 6000 of the youth of the country had perished 
by the enemy, or by distempers contracted in the service." 

X The petition was signed by Hannah Simons, Elizabeth Currier, Hannah Eatton, Judith Eatton, 
Mchetable Guile, Ruth Dow, Abigail Dow, Sarah Johnson, Sarah Uaseltiuc, Hannah Heath, Sarah Guile. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. " 239 

A petition was also received for a school-liouse in the northwesterly part 
of the town, "between Hog-hill and the hrick-kill bridge;" but "very- 
few if any persons voted for it," and the request was therefore denied." 

At this meeting, the Selectmen were " desired to seat the negroes in some 
convenient place in the meeting-house, if they can." This appears to have 
been the origin of the "negro pew," in this town; and it is worthy of 
note, that the practice thus inaugurated, continued so long as there were 
negroes in the town, — a period within the memory of many persons now 
living. 

In this connection, we give the following synopsis of the history of 
slavery in Massachusetts. We condense it from the reply of Dr. Belknap 
of Boston, to Judge Tucker of Virginia, in 179o.| 

Samuel Maverick resided on Noddle's Island when Winthrop came over 
in 1630. He had a fort and four great guns, John Joselyn, who came to 
New England in 1638, mentions Mr. Maverick's negro woman and a 
negro man, and "another negro who was her maid," and that "Mr. 
Maverick was desirous to have a breed of negroes." He understood that 
the negro woman "had been a queen in her own country," &c. 

The laws enacted between 1630 and 1641, make mention of servants 
and masters, man-servant, and maid-servant ; in 16-45 mention is made of 
negroes " fraudulently and injuriously taken and brought from Guinea" by 
Captain Smith to Piscataqua. About the same time (1645) a law was 
made " prohibiting the buying and selling of slaves, except those taken in 
lawful war, or reduced to servitude for their crimes by a judicial sentence, 
and these were to have the same privileges as were allowed by the law of 
Moses," In 1649 it was enacted — " If any man stealeth a man or man- 
kind, he shall surely be put to death. Exodus xxi — 16." 

In 1675-6-7 some Indians, who had submitted to the government, 
joined against the English in Phillips war. Those taken in arms, were 
adjudged guilty of rebellion. Some were put to death, but most of them 
were sold into slavery in foreign countries. Some of these latter found 
their way home, and joined with the hostile Indians in a succeeding war, 
in revenge. 

African trade was never prosecuted, in any great degree, by merchants 
of Massachusetts. Negroes were probably introduced via trade with 
Barbadoes. In 1703, a duty of four pounds was laid on every negro 
imported. Not over three ships a year ever engaged in the African trade. 

.= The names of the petitioners were — Peter Green, Jotham Hendrick, Nathaniel Peasly, Samuel 
Clements, James Sanders, Peter Green, Jr., John Page, John Eatton, Matthew Herriman, Jr., Joseph 
Peasly, Abraham Page, Henry Sanders. 
t From Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. Vol. 4, 194. 



240 ' HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

Rum was the main spring of it. Slaves purchased in Africa were chiefly 
sold in the West Indies, or Southern colonies. AVhen the markets were 
glutted, and prices low, some were brought here. Very few whole cargoes 
ever came. One gentleman remembers only two or three : — One thirty to 
forty years ago, which was mostly children. Ehode Island did much more 
of this than Boston. Some of their vecsels, after selling prime slaves at 
the West Indies, brought the remnant to Boston. Boston is the only 
seaport in Massachusetts ever concerned in the business. About the time 
of the stamp act, the trade declined, and in 1788 was prohibited by law. 

The causes of its declension were, — it required large capitol — was 
hazardous — was never supported by popular opinion — the voice of con- 
science was against it — those engaged in it, in their last hours bitterly 
lamented it — the laboring people complained of the blacks, as intruders — 
the inconsistency of pleading our own rights and liberties, while we 
encouraged the subjugation of others. 

There was never anything like a census before 1763, and it was not then 
very accurate. It was very unpopular. The second was in 1776 ; the 
third in 178*1. 

In 1763 there were in Mass. 5,214 blacks, or 45 to 1 of population. 
1776 " " 5,249 " " 65 " 1 " 

1784 " " 4,377 " " 80 " 1 " " 

In 1700, (first United States Census) there were in Massachusetts and 
Maine, six thousand blacks and Indians — about two thousand were mixed 
and blacks. Slaves were most numerous previous to 1763. Prince Hall, 
a very intelligent black man, aged fifty-seven years, thinks slaves were 
most numerous about 1745. Boston contained one-fourth part of all of 
them. In country towns, he never heard of more than three or four on a 
farm, except one, which had sixteen, and " it was a distinguished singu- 
larity." They were employed as rope-makers, anchor-smiths, ship-carpen- 
ters, and in families, as servants. 

Negro children were always reckoned incumbrances, and when weaned, 
were given away like puppies. The negroes were inventoried and taxed 
as ratable property. Some of them purchased their freedom ; and some 
were liberated by their masters. The law was against manumission, un- 
less the master gave bonds for maintenance in case of sickness, or 
decrepitude. Negroes were forbidden to strike a white man, on pain of 
being sold out of the province. If found out after nine o'clock, P. M., 
they were sent to the House of Correction. Inter-marriage was prohibited, 
under severe penalties. 



HISTORY OT" nAVERHILL. 241 

The controversy about slavery began about 17G6, and was warmly con- 
tinued till 1773, by newspaper articles, pamphlets, speeches, &c. The 
Quakers helped the cause along. In 17G7, an attempt was made in the 
legislature to discourage the slave trade, but it failed ; and again, in 1773, 
on petition from the negroes. In 1774, an act was passed by the Assem- 
bly, to prevent importation ; but it was vetoed by Governor Hutchinson. 
After the adoption of the Constitution of 1780, which declares " all men free 
and equal," many asked for, and obtained their freedom. Some took it 
without leave. Many aged and infirm continued in the families where 
they had lived. In 1781, an indictment was found against a white man 
in Worcester County, for assaulting, beating, and imprisoning a black. 
He was tried in the Supreme Judicial Court, in 1783. His Defence was, 
that the black was his slave, and the beating, kc., were necessary correc- 
tion. The Ansiver was the foregoing clause of the Constitution. The 
judges and jury decided that he had no right to beat or imprison the negro, 
and he was found guilty and fined forty shillings. This was tiie death- 
blow to slavery in Massachusetts. 

We believe that the earliest distinct allusion to "servants" we have 
met with in the records or traditions of this town, is the record of the death 
of " Hopewell, an Indian Servant of John Hutchins," in 1668. The next, 
is found in the account of the remarkable preservation of Eev. Mr. Rolfc's 
children, by his "negro woman," Hagar, in 1708. Hagar " owned the 
covenant, and was baptized," with her children, (two sons and one daugh- 
ter) by Eev. Mr. G-ardnei-, in 1711. In 1709, the house of Colonel 
Eichard Saltonstall was blown up, by "his negro wench," whom he had 
previously "corrected." In 1723, Eev. Mr. Brown had an Indian ser- 
vant, as may be seen from the following entry in his book of church 
records: — " Baptized Phillis an Indian Girl, Servant of John & Joanna 
Brown." In 1728, Mr. Brown baptized " Mariah, negro servant of Eich- 
ard Saltonstall." In 1738, Eev. Mr. Bachellor baptized " Celia, Negro 
child of John Corliss." In 1740, he baptized "Levi, Negro child of Sam- 
uel Parker." In 1757, he baptized "Dinah, negro child of Samuel 
Haseltine ; " and, also, " Lot & Candace, negroes belonging to Eichard and 
Martha Ayer. In 1764, he baptized "Gin, negro Girl of Peter Carleton." 
Mr. Bachellor had himself a negro servant, as we find, in the church book 
of records of the West Parish, under date of March 24, 1785, the follow- 
ing entry among the deaths: — " Nero, servant to ye Eevd Mr Bacheller." 
There is a tradition that he had a negro named " Pomp," who is said to 
have dug the well near the old meeting-house. As the story goes, just 
before setting out for an exchange with a distant minister, Mr. Bachellor 
31 



242 HISTORY OP nAVERHILL. 

Bet Pomp at work to dig the well, and gave him positive instructions to 
have it done by the time he returned. Pomp labored diligently, and with 
good success, until he came to a solid ledge. This was too hard for his 
pick and spade, and poor Pomp was greatly perplexed. His " massa " had 
directed him to have the well done when he returned, but how to get 
through the solid rock was more than Pomp could tell. While in this 
dilemma, a neighbor happened along, who advised that the ledge should 
be blasted with powder, and kindly instructed Pomp how to drill a hole 
for the blast. The latter, much pleased at the prospect of getting his job 
finished in season, worked vigorously at his drill, and soon had a hole nearly 
deep enough, when he suddenly struck through the ledge, and the water 
commenced rushing up through the hole with such force, that he was 
obliged to scramble out of the well as fast as possible, to escape drowning. 
It is said that the well has never been dry since. 

From Eev. Mr. Parker's book of church records, in the East Parish, we 
find that, in 1750, he "baptized Jenny, the Servant child of Joseph & 
Mary Greelee ; " in 1758, " Phillis, the negro child of Ezekiel and Sarah 
Davis;" and, in 1764, "Mercy, the negro child of Seth & Hannah 
Johnson." 

Prom the official census of 1754, we find that there were then in this 
town sixteen slaves, "of sixteen years old and upwards," In 1764, the 
number was twenty-five. 

From a partial file of the town valuation lists, from 1750 to 1800, we 
learn that the following persons in this town owned slaves. It is worthy 
of note, that with the very few exceptions noted, but one negro was owned 
by each person : — 

1753. John Cogswell, John Dimond, Benj Harrod, John Hazzen (2), 
Col Eichd Saltonstall (2), Wm Swonten (2), John Sawyer, Saml AYhite. 
These Avere all in the First Parish. 

1754. In the East Parish, Joseph Greelee, Wm Morse, Amos Peaslee, 
Timothy Hardey. 

1755. In the First Parish, John Cogswell. In the West Parish, John 
Corlis. 

1759. In the First Parish, Moses Clements, Samuel AYhite, Samuel 
ANTiite Esq, Thos AYest. In the AYest Parish, Joseph Haynes. 

1761. In the AA'est Parish, Samuel Bacheller, Joseph Haynes. 

1766. In the First Parish, Moses Clements, Xathl Cogswell, James 
McHard, Samuel AAlxite, Samuel AA'hite juu (2), John \Yhite. 

17G9. In the East Parish, Dudly Tyler. 



mSTOUY OP HAVERHILL. 243 

1770. In tlie First Parish, Moses Clements, James McHard,- Samuel 
Souther, Saml White, Saml "White jun (2), John White. 

1771. In the First Parish, Jona Webster, Saml Souther, John White, 
Saml White Esq,f James McHard, Moses Clement, Enoch Bartlett. In 
the East Parish, Dudley Tyler. 

1776. In the East Parish, Wm Moors, Dudley Tyler. This is the 
latest date we find "negroes," or "servants," entered in the valuation 
lists in the town. 

In one list, the date of which is lost, but which was apparently some- 
where between 1750 and 1 760, we find the following : — Eobert Hutchins, 
Moses Hazzen (2), Eobert Peaslee (2), John Sanders, John Sweat, Saml 
White, Saml White jun, Christ: Bartlett, John Clements, Joseph Harimin, 
Joshua Harimin, Eadmun Hale, Daniel Johnson, Jona Eoberds, Wm 
Whitiker. 

We are informed by Mr. James Davis, that his father, Amos Davis, of 
the East Parish, owned two negToes named Prince and Judith, whom he 
purchased when young, in Newburyport. The bill of sale of them is still 
preserved in the family. Prince married a white woman, and, after secur- 
ing his freedom, removed to Sanbornton, N. H., where he has descendants 
still living, Judith remained in the family until her death. 

Deacon Chase, who lived in the edge of Amesbury, not far from 

the Eocks' Village, also owned a negro, named Peter, who is remembered 
by many persons now living. After the death of his master, he passed 
into the posession of a Mr. Pilsbury, with whom he lived until his death. 
William Morse, of the East Parish, had a negro servant, named Jenny. 
We also learn of one in the family of Job Tyler in the same Pai-isL 

From the town records, we learn, that in the month of September, 1714, 
there was a " great fire in the woods, whereby the hay was in general & 
great danger." We persume that a large part of their hay was usually 
stacked in the meadows, where it was cut, until wanted for feeding out in 
the winter, and it was these stacks which were thus endangered. The 
danger was so great, that but few of the inhabitants could leave home to 
attend town meeting, and it was therefore adjourned. 

In the records of this year, (1714) we find the first allusion to Stocks, 
in the form of an item in a bill : — " iron for the Stocks, 3s. 10." Judging 
from the cost of the iron they were either the first Stocks in town, or, at 
any rate, neio ones. 

•' The niime of this negro ■n-as "Jenny." — Tradition. 

t At a town meeting, September 22, 1705, a committee was chosen to assist " Salem, a black man, late 
a servant of Samuel V/hite," who had become chargeable to the town. Many now living remember "Old 
8alem," who lived on the bank of the river, nearly opposite the foot of Kent Street. 



244 uiSTORY OF havehhill. 

In October, the bounds of the town were renewed, by Samuel Danforth, 
a son of the person who first surveyed them. The following is his report 
to the General Court : — 

" Oct. 25, 1714. At the request of the Selectmen of Haverhill to renew 
the bounds of their town : I began al i\Ierrimack lliver upon Denisens 
where it was asserted by Lieut Stephen Barker & Kobert Swan, and Henry 
Bodwell of an old marked tree, & run north by a line of marked trees & 
heaps of stones to the north angle of the town, which was a great heap of 
stones ; This line we renewed well : then I run southeast by a line of 
marked trees to the eastward side of Cedar Swamp ; & this line we renewed 
until we came to a white oak tree marked with the letter X : and another 
tree marked H : and we found several of the trees on both lines marked 
with the letter H. Then I began at Holt's Eock's at Mcrrimac River & 
run northwest until I met with the line I left on the eastward side of Cedar 
Swamp : and I found one great j)illar of stones upon the line near the old 
Bam. I find these two lines accarding to the return that my honord 
father made to' the General Court ; and the Selectmen and several others 

assisted me in said work. 

Samuel Danforth Surveyor." 

Though highway surveyors had been regularly chosen by the town, 
since 1693, and had been appointed by the Selectmen for many years 
previous to that time, yet wc find no record or hint that money had been 
expended by them, or work done, except upon three or four bridges, until 
the year 1715, when "Jotham Hendrick, surveyor," was allowed six 
shillings for " mending the highway." As the smallest matters of town 
expense were recorded, we are confident that if any work or money had 
been expended upon the roads previous to this time, the records would 
surely contain some hint of the fact. As they do not, we feel safe in saying 
that the town did not, as such, expend a penny, or a day's labor, upon its 
roads, except for bridges, during the first seventy-five years of its settlement! 
Subsequent to this date, highway expenses are regularly mentioned. 

At the annual meeting in 1715, the town voted that Mr. Gardner might 
have a weekly contribution if he desired it, so that he might have some 
money " before the town rate was raised for him." At the next annual 
meeting (1715-16) a committee was chosen to join with him in leasing the 
Parsonage farm for twenty years, " if he live so long." Two weeks after- 
ward, Mr. Gardner was dead, and a town meeting was held (March 28) 
to see about finding some one to take his place. 

Mr. Barnard, his second successor, in a sermon, thus speaks of him : — 
" Mr. Gardner, who is warm in the hearts of a few of you to this day, was 



HISTORY OP HAVEKIIILL. 245 

soon ripe for heaven, according to the account whicL was handed down of 
him. He was not suiFered to remain long by reason of death. Neither 
prayers nor tears could detain him from his inheritance above. In a few 
years he finished his course with joy." 

The following epitaph is taken from the simple monument raised to his 
memory : — 

'■^ Rev. Joshua Gardner died March 21, 1715, a man good betimes and 
full of the Holy Ghost and faith, of an excellent temper, of great integrity, 
prudence and courage — pastor of the church in Haverhill five years — who, 
having faithfully improved his talents, fell asleep in Jesus, and toent 
triumjihantly to receive his reivard in heaven.^^ 

After his death, the town voted to pay the expenses of his funeral, which 
amounted to thirty-four pounds nine shillings and six pence. =■•= 

A petition was this year presented to the town, signed by thirty of the 
inhabitants, desiring that the obstruction in Merrie's Creek, and the Fish- 
ing, or Little Eiver, might be removed, " so that a free passage for the 
fish might be obtained." The petition was granted. 

From the records of the same year, we learn, that the " Town's old book 
of grants and_^orders" was lost, and a committee was chosen to see if they 
could find it. From the bill presented by the committee the next year, it 
appears that they spent three days each in the business ; that Captain 
White, the Town Clerk, attended on the committee two days ; and that 
James Sanders made one journey to Salem to enquire after it, and another 
journey to " Sandige " to "enquire after and bring home the old town 
books." The whole expenses were four pounds, sixteen shillings. The 
books were ordered to be delivered to the Town Clerk. The town had 
once before refused to allow these books to be kept by that ofiicer, but hav- 
ing thus narrowly escaped a total loss, they wisely concluded they would 
be safest in his hands. 

After the death of Mr. Gardner, the pulpit was occupied by various 
ministers, among whom was Mr. Jonathan Cushiug, and Mr. Eobert Stan- 
ton. At a church meeting, held July 27th, 1716, to choose a minister, 
Mr. Cushing received twenty ^out of thirty-five votes ; and at a town meet- 
ing, the same day, he received one hundred and two out of one hundred 
and thirty-six votes.f The town then voted to oifcr him the same that 
they had paid Mr. Glardner. 

* William White made a journey to Boston to get supplies for the funeral. Among the items of ex- 
pense, was " one bbl cyder." Joshua Gardner married Mercy Pike, November 22,1711. Children, — 
Samuel, December 9, 1713; Nathaniel, August 27, 1715. 

t As our ancestors were always out in full force upon all such occasions, the above, we thiuk, is very 
near the full number of church members and voters in the town at this time. 



246 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

It seems, however, that the minority, who had all voted for Mr. Stanton, 
were not merely in favor of the latter, but were opposed to Mr. Gushing ; 
and, Xovember 28th, a meeting was called to hear the report of the com- 
mittee chosen to treat with 3Ir. Cushing, and " to hear what those persons 
have to allege against his settling here that are uneasy under his min- 
istry." 

The result was, that a Committee was chosen to consult the Eev. Mr. 
Leverett and Eev. Mr. Brattle, of Cambridge, as to the best course to be 
pursued. According to their advice a Committee was chosen to treat with 
a Mr. Fiske, who had preached iu town several times since the death of 
Mr. Gardner. But it seems that they could not unite peaceably upon Mr. 
Fiske, and recourse was again had to Cambridge for advice. 

January 2 2d a meeting was called " to hear the advice of the Kev. Mr. 
Leverett, & Mr. Brattle." The record does not say what their further 
advice was, but from the following, which was the first vote passed at the 
meeting, we presume they recommended a day of fasting and prayer : — 

" Voted that the Eevd Mr AEoody, Mr Parson, ^Ir A\'ise of Chebacco, 
Mr Wells, Mr Tappin, & Mr White be desired with the Eevd Mr Barnard, 
Mr Cushing, Mr Symes, & Mr Tufts, in keeping a day of humiliation, to 
seek for wisdom of hea.ven in our great affairs, on Wednesday the sixth day 
of February next." 

A Committee was chosen to invite the above named ministers, and receive 
their advice in the matter, and also to make provision for their entertain- 
ment on the day of the Fast. 

The result of the fast, was, that the Eev. Joseph Parsons, of Lebanon, 
was selected by the church for their minister. 

The church having made choice of Mr. Parsons, a meeting of the town 
was called. May 28, to consider the matter. As " a great many people 
were unsatisfied about his leaving his church" at Lebanon," several papers 
were read in the town meeting ; among them the determination of a Council 
acquitting him " from crimes laid to his charge," and declaring their 
approbation of his removal. The town voted that they were satisfied, and, 
by a vote of sixty-five to forty-eight, chose him to settle here as minister, 
offering him a salary of one hundred pounds, besides the use of the Parsonage 
lands and buildings. The minority, however, were so strongly opposed to 
his settlement, that, at a meeting called in the following August, (13th) 
the town, with but one dissenting voice, reconsidered the vote. 

October 30, a meeting was called, •' to forgive all past offences that have 
been given among us, concerning the settlement of a minister, and agree iu 

** Jlr. Parsons was now preaching in Uaverhill. 



HISTORY OF HATERHILL 247 

love and peace to consider & agree upon a suitable person to caiTy on 
the work of the ministry among us." The moderator, Ephraim Eoberts, 
proposed that all who wished to signify " their desires for peace and love 
one towards another, & for the sending for a minister to preach with us," 
should move to the east end of the meeting-house. They all moved to the 
east end, except three or four persons. The meeting then adjourned. 

Another meeting was held November 12, but, after "considerable dis- 
course" it adjourned without accomplishing anything, and the year closed 
without the settlement of a minister in the town. 

Sunday, October 21, 1716, was what is called "a dark day." It was 
so dark that candles were lighted at noon. Stephen Jaques, of Newbury, 
in his diary, says : — 

" On the sabath day about eleven of the clock in sarman time it grue so 
dark that one could not see a parson from one end of the metting hous to 
the other except it was against a window, nor could know another four 
seats off, nor read a word in a psalm boolP. It continued near half an 
hour. Sum ministers sent for candels, sum set still, till it was lighter. 
Sum was ready to think the world was at an end ; all seemed to be con- 
sarued. It was a time when ye air was very full of smoke. It came 
dayly down when it was a south west wind, the wind being now as I re- 
member at est, which might bring ye smoak back, & dark clouds pass over, 
as it being cloudy weather. I was an eie witness of this myself." 

The winter of 1710-17, is memorable for the unusual quantity of snow 
that fell between the 1 8th and the 24th of February. In these storms, 
the earth was covered with snow from ten to fifteen feet, and, in some 
places, even twenty feet deep. Many one story houses were entirely cov- 
ered, and, in many places, paths were dug from house to house, under the 
snow. Visits were made from place to place by means of snow shoes, — 
the wearers, in many cases, stepping out of their chamber windows on to 
the snow. In this manner, one Abraham Pierce, of Newbury, paid a visit 
to his " ladye love," and was the first person the family had seen abroad 
for more than a week. Cotton Mather has left a particular account of this 
" great snow," and the many marA^els and prodigies attending it. 

The town were yet without a settled minister, and, at one time, it 
seemed doubtful whether they would very soon be able to unite upon any 
one to settle among them. But the cloud of dissentiou at last blew over, 
and at a meeting held early in February, 1718, " Mr Samuel Chickley- " 
was unanimously made choice of for their minister. Two months after- 
ward, (April 23) he received a formal call from the town, accompanied 

o ChecJdey. ~'~^ " 



248 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

with the offer of one hundred pounds salary, and the use of all the Par- 
sonage land east of sawmill river.'* For reasons not given, Mr. Checkley 
declined the offer. 

The successor of Mr. Checkley, as occasional minister, or candidate for 
Bettlement, was Mr. John Brown, of Little Cambridge, (now Brighton) who 
pleased the people so well, that in October they unanimously invited him 
to settle among them, and offered him the same salary that they had 
previously voted to give Mr. Checkley. Mr. Brown accepted the invita- 
tion, and was ordained on the 13th of the next May, (1719.) 

Mr. Brown graduated at Cambridge, in 1714. He married Joanna 
Cotton, daughter of Kev. Eowland Cotton, of Sandwich, an " eminently 
pious and worthy Lady." They had ten children, six sons and four 
daughters. Four of the sons were educated at Cambridge. John 
graduated in 1741, and was ordained in Cohasset. He died 1792, aged 
sixty-nine. Cotton graduated in 1743, was ordained at Brookline, on 
2Gth of October, 1748, and dieft 13th of April, 1751. Dr. Cooper notices 
him as one who "had raised in his friends the fairest hopes, and given 
them just reason to expect in him one of the brightest ornaments of society, 
and a peculiar blessing to the church." Ward graduated in 1748, and 
died the same year. Thomas graduated in 1752, and was a minister at 
Stroudwater. He died^ in 1797. His eldest daughter married John 
Chipman, Esq., of Marblehead; another, a Mr. Dana, of Brookline, and 
a third Rev. Edward Brooks, of Medford, formerly minister at North 
Yarmouth.! 

The ferry, established in 1711, at Holt's Rocks, and kept by John 
Swett, was this year (1718) granted by the General Court to Haverhill 
and Xewbury for the term of forty years. In answer to Mr. Swett's peti- 
tion, this town granted him all its right in the ferry, if he would engage 
to carry the inhabitants over the river " for a penny a single person and 
four pence for a man and horse." 

AVe notice that, with the exception of two years, the bounty of twenty 
shillings on wolves had been annually voted up to this time. The num- 
ber of these troublesome animals in the vicinity may be judged from the 
fact that in 1716, five full-grown ones were killed in town. The bounty 
was continued for many years after this time. 

o The reason given for not including the parsonage land west of the atove river, was, — " not knowing 
hut ■what they may in some convenient time settle another minister there." 

t The following is IVom the Town Kecords : — John Brown, m Joanna Cotton. Ch. — Elizabeth, 

Oft 20, 1721; Martha Feb 0, 1723, d Oct 5, 173G; John, Mar 9. 1724; Nathaniel, Sep 20, 172;J, d. Oct 

21, 1736; Cotton, Jan 21, 1726; Ward, July 19, 1728; Meriel, 3n]yo, 1730; Abig.ail, ; Thomas. 

}May 17, 1734 ; Samuel, Sep 17, 1736, d Nov 8, 1736 ; The Rev. John Brown, died Pec. 2, 1742. " Phillis, 
»n Indian servant" of Mr. Brown's, d Apl 22, 1729. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 249 

The first mention we find of a deacon in town, is in the records of 1717. 
\vlien "Deacon John Haseltine " was chosen moderator of one of the meet- 
ings about a minister. A few weeks later, we find '-Deacon "White" 
(John) among the names. These two. then, were undoubtedly the active 
chui'ch deacons at this time. Deacon Hasc^ltiue was moderator of all the 
meetings called to see about a minister at this period, but not of other 
town meetings. Deacon White's seems to have been the usual stopping 
place for those who supplied the pulpit while there was no settled minister 
in town. The celebrated George Whitefield, who visited the town twice 
during bis well known labors in the vicinity, was, on both occasions, the 
guest of Deacon White. Whitefield did not preach in town on his first 
visit, as strong objections were made to allowing him the use of the meet- 
ing-house ; but, on his second visit, he preached to a large congregation of 
people in the open air, opposite' the Deacon's house, on Mill Street. So 
strong was the prejudice against Whitefield, that the authorities of the 
town, hearing that he was to preach, sent him a warning to dej)art out of 
the town. Instead of complying with their request, he read their letter 
at the close of his afternoon discourse, and observing "Poor souls! they 
shall have another sermon," proceeded to give notice that he should preach 
at the same place, at sunrise, the next morning. He kept his word, and 
addressed a large ajidience. 

The following brief notice of the first settlement of Londonderry may 
not be considered inappropriate in this place, for reasons which will after- 
ward appear. 

On the 14th of August, 1718, there arrived in Boston five ship-loads 
of emigrants from the north of Ireland. = ■ They were descendants of a 
colony which went from Argjdeshire, in Scotland, about the middle of the 
seventeeth century. They were rigid Presbyterians, and fled from Scot- 
land to avoid the persecutions of Charles I. Soon after their arrival in 
New England, they petitioned the Assembly for a grant of land, and ob- 
tained liberty to make a settlement of twelve miles square in any of the 
unappropriated lands to the eastward. Twenty families of them sailed 
for Casco, where they remained until spring, when, not finding land whicL 
pleased them, most of them embarked for the Merrimack. They reached 
Haverhill April 2d, and while here, hearing of a fine tract of land about 
fifteen miles distant, called Nutjield, from the abundance of chesnut, but- 
ternut, and walnut trees, which distinguished its forests, the men left their 

* There were one hundred and twenty families in all. 

32 



250 HISTORY OF HAVERniLL. 

families in Haverhill, and went to view Nutfield. Being well pleased witli 
the location, and finding it unappropriated, they concluded to take it up. 
Having selected a spot, and built a few huts, they returned for their fami- 
lies, with whom they finally arrived at Nutfield April 11, 0. S., 1719. 
There were sixteen families of them. In 1720, they purchased the Indian 
title, and, although it was long a frontier town, they were never molested 
Tby the Indians. In 1722 their settlement was incorporated by the name 
of Londonderry, — from a city in the north of Ireland, near which they 
had formerly resided. 

These settlers introduced the culture of the potato, — a vegetable till then 
iinknown in New England, — and also the manufacture of linen cloth."' 

Potatoes were first raised in the garden of Mr. Nathaniel Walker, of 
Andover, and gradually, but very slowly, found their way into general 
cultivation. They are first mentioned in Newbury, in 1732; in Lynn, 
1733; in 1737, Ecv. Thomas Smith, of Portland, says "there is not a 
peck of potatoes in the whole eastern country." So late as 1750, if any 
person raised so large a quantity as five bushels, great was the inquiry 
among his neighbors as to how he could dispose of the enormous quantity. 
They were first planted in this town by William White, who raised four 
bushels ; but he knew not how to make use of so large a quantity, and 
gave many of them to his neighbors. 

Eev. Mr. Parker, in his History of Londonderry, gives the following 
interesting account of their first cultivation in Andover : — 

"Previous to a permanent settlement at Londonderry, some of these 
people resided a few months at Andover, Mass., and on taking their depar- 
ture, a few potatoes were left with one of the families there, for seed. 
The potatoes were accordingly planted ; came up, and flourished well ; 
blossomed and produced balls, which the family supposed were the fruit 
to be eaten. They cooked the balls in various ways, but could not make 
them palatable, and pronounced them unfit for food. The next spring, 
while ploughing their garden, the plough turned out some of the potatoes, 
of great size, and thus discovered to them their previous mistake." 

At the annual meeting of this town, in 1719, it was voted "to make all 
the inhabitants of this Town proprietors in Common lands according to the 
charges they have borne in the town in the time of the war ; " and a com- 
mittee was chosen "to examine what every man paid to the rates in the 
time of the war in this town." AVe do not learn that this proposition was 
finally carried out. 

o Belknap, Hist. N. H. 



HISTOKY OF HAVERHILL. 251 

The proceedings of the " Commoners," in holding separate meetings, 
and taking the management of the common land^ into their own hands, 
was not entirely satisfactory to all the inhabitants, and, early in June, 
1719, "upwards of twenty of the Inhabitants & Freeholders" petitioned 
the selectmen to call a town meeting " to prevent the disposing of any 
more of the common-lands belonging to said Town by a few men contrary 
to a former vote of said Town ; " and also, " to choose a committee to pros- 
ecute any that have or shall encroach upon any of the lands, at the Town's 
cost." The selectmen refused to call such a meeting, and a warrant was 
thereupon issued by " Joseph Woodbridge Justice of the Peace." 

Nothing was done at the meeting thus called, except the dismissal 
of all committees previously chosen by the town, and the choice of a new 
committee, to prosecute encroachers upon the common lands of the town. 
From these proceedings, it will be seen, that the non-commoners were deter- 
mined to try their strength with the commoners, and the consequence was 
that the town soon became the seat of warm contentions, and disputes. 
At the time of the last named meeting, the feeling ran so high, that the 
commoners were refused the key of the meeting-house, and after organizing 
their meeting at its door, they adjourned to the tavern of James Pecker, 
where several subsequent meetings were also convened. 

In July of this year, Stephen Barker, Henry BodAvell, and others, peti- 
tioned the town " to grant or set them off a certain tract of land lying in 
the township of Haverhill that so they might be a township or parish," 
but their request was denied.* 

At the next March meeting, the following petition was presented : — 

" Whereas there is a certain tract of land in the West end of Haverhill 
containing Fifty or Sixty acres, lying on the south and south west of a 
Meadow commonly called bare meadow, which land, together with a piece 
of land lying on a hill called meetinghouse hill, in times past reserved by 
our forefathers for the use of the ministry, might in hard times make a 
convenient Parsonage ; if by the blessing of God, the gospel might so 
flourish amongst us, and we grow so populous, as to be able to maintain 
and carry on the gospel ministry amongst us. 

We therefore humbly pray that you would take into consideration the 
circumstances we are in, & the difficulty we may hereafter meet with in 
procuring a privilege for the ministry ; and that you would gi*ant, & settle 
& record the above said lands in your Town book, for the above said use, 

<* The petitioners lived in that part of the town now Methuen. 



252 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

&. you will gratify your humble petitioners and oblige us & our posterity 

to serve you hereafter in what we may. 

Joshua Swan, *Thos Johnson, Thos Whittier, 

Henry Bodwell, Edwd Carleton, Ephraim Clark, 

Henry Bodwell jun, Saml Hutchins, Thos Whittier sen, 

Danl Eodwell, Elisha Davis, Mathw Harriman, 

Jas Bodwell, John Hastings, Saml Smith; 

Thos Massar, John Gutterson, Saml Currier, 

James Davis, John Lad, Jona Clark,, 

Ahiall Masser, James Sanders jun, Stephen Barker, 

Henry Sanders, Wm Whittier, John Sanders." 

" This petition was granted according to the proposals therein made," 
and in July a committee was chosen to lay out the land. 

This spring (1720) the dispute between the commoners and non-com- 
mouors again came up for consideration, and at the annual meeting, the 
town unanimously voted to make the following proposal to the commoners: 

" That the inhabitants or nan-commoners so called, should have their 
right in all the Common or undivided lands in said Haverhill, lying on 
the West side of the way from William Johnson's to Jonathan Cloughs, in 
proportion with the Commoners according to the rates & taxes they have 
borne from the year 1094 to the year 1714." 

*' Nathan AVebster was chosen to prefer this request to the Commoners 
or Proprietors of the Common land in Haverhill." 

At an adjourned meeting, May 29, " The Commoners answer to the 
Town's proposal was brought into the Town meeting & read ; and the Com- 
moners therein signify to the Town that they can't see reason to grant 
their proposals at present." 

Upon this, the non-commoners appear to have decided to do as they 
pleased with the lands in dispute, as the very first vote at the next meeting, 
was, to " sell some common-land to pay the Towns debts or charges;" 
and the second was as follows: — " Voted and granted that that tract of 
land lying beyond Hoghill mill that lyeth within our Township not intrud- 
ing on the fourth division land shall be laid out to those men that have 
been out in long marches in the time of the war, and to others of the 
inhabitants of this Town, that will make speedy settlement on the same." 

A committee of five was chosen to lay it out forthwith, in fifty acre lots. 

At the July meeting, Ann Pecker petitioned for liberty to build a small 
pew in the meeting-house, " as through my infirmity and weakness, by 
reason of my age I cannot sit comfortably in the meetinghouse, during the 
time of divine service, the seat being so very narrow." Her recjuest was 



HISTORY OS" HAVERHILL ' 253 

granted, and also one from Kichard Hazzen, who preferred a similar request, 
as he had "no place to sit but upon courtesy of Mr Eastman or ciowding 
into some fore seat, too honorable for me." 

Samuel Haseltine was granted a piece of common-land, for his work in 
" enlarging the galleries of the meeting-house ; " and various other grants 
and sales of common-land were also made at the same meeting. The town 
seem to have renewed the business of disposing of these surplus lands in 
good earnest. At the nest meeting they voted to " defend the land that 
they have sold or shall sell," and also to " bear all the charges that any 
man or men shall be put to, to defend the land that he hath bought or 
shall buy of the Town, by any suits in law until the title of said land 
shall be tried out." 

In October, a nreeting was held to see about the town's proportion of the 
£50,000 " Bank money " granted by the Great and General Court in 1720. 
Trustees were appointed to receive it, and were directed to let it out to 
individuals, inhabitants of Haverhill, in sums of £10 to £20, at five per 
cent, interest, payable annually. 

This year, there was a new " seating of persons in the meeting-house." 
The magnitude of the undertaking may be judged from the fact that it 
took the committee four days to do the job. As before, a second committee 
were appointed to assign seats for the first committee. 

At an adjourned meeting, December 11th, the following important action 
was taken in relation to the common lands in town : — 

'• Voted and granted that the common land in Haverhill except the Cow 
common and the land beyond Hoghill mill, shall be laid out into rate lots, 
according to the Charges or Eates that every person in this town has paid 
from the year 1692 to 1712, except those persons that removed out of the 
Town in the time of the war ; & excepting some land to make good old 
grants, if any do appear to be justly due from the Town." 

" Voted and granted that every five pounds that has been paid in public 
charges or rates in this Town by any persons within the time above men- 
tioned, shall draw one acre of land in the rate lots ; and so proportionably 
according to what sum they have paid Avithin the time above prefixed." 

A committee was chosen to take an account of the rates paid during the 
years specified, and also one to lay out the land according to the above votes. 

During this time the commoners were not by any means idle. At a 
meeting in January, (Jan. 2, 1721) Samuel White and William White 
were granted permission to set up a grist-mill and fulling-mill on Sawmill 
Eiver. The reason given for desiring to move their mill from Mill Brook 
to the above place, was, — the scarcity of water during a part of the year 
at Mill Brook. 



254 HISTORY OF UAVERHILL. 

At the same meeting, a fifth division of land was ordered, which was to 
include all the undivided lands in town, except the cow-common. 

At a meeting in February. " the island or islands just above Spicket 
Falls " were sold to Asa and Kichard Swan, for £2, 10 s. 

At a meeting in June, the following interesting petition was presented : — 
" HaverhillJune 26, 1721: 

I'o ye commoners or proprietors of ye common lands in Haverhill : 
Ye petition of Ebenezer Eastman of ye sd Town humbly sheweth yt for as 
much as Trading by sea is one way whereby I expect to gett my living 
and furnish out my good neighbors wth many such nessisarys of life as 
are most conveniant, and ye Incouragmcnt of shipping being of very great 
consequence and a great Interest to this Town as well as my own, I would 
humbly request yt I may have liberty to erect a wharff some what above 
ye house where I now dwell yt soe navigation may be promoted, and yt 
Thereby ye whole Town of Haverhill as well as my self may receive an 
Annuall Income Thereby and you Infinitely oblige your humble petitioner 

Ebenezer Eastman." 

Ebenezer, son of Phillip Eastman, was born in Haverhill, February 17, 
1681. His father was the person already mentioned as having been taken 
captive at the same time with the wife and children of Thomas Kimball, 
of Bradford ; and whose house and buildings were burned by the Indians, 
in 1698. 

From his youth, Ebenezer had been inured to hardship. At the age of 
twenty-one he joined the regiment of Colonel Wainwright in the expedition 
against Port Eoyal. In 1711, when the British fleet, under Admiral 
Walker, destined against Canada, arrived at Boston, Eastman, then about 
thirty years of age, had command of a company of infantry, which 
embarked with others in one of the transports. 

In going up the river St. Lawrence, they encountered a violent north- 
east storm, in which eight or nine of the transports were wrecked and 
about one thousand men lost.--' 

The following anecdote is related of Captain Eastman : — As night 
came on, the orders were that all the transports should follow the admiral's 
ship, which had a large light hoisted at mast-head for a signal. Captain 
Eastman was somewhat acquainted with the navigation of the river, having 
sailed up and down before. In the night, the light of the admiral's ship 
was not to be seen, and at the time when the fleet were doubling a very 
dangerous and rocky point. AVhcn the admiral's ship had fairly doubled 

o Ilolmes' Am. Annals. 



HISTOKY OF HAVERHILL. 255 

the point and got into line, the light appeared in such a position as to 
draw the line of ships directly on to that dangerous point. Aware of the 
danger, Captain Eastman went to the commander, informed him of the peril, 
and begged him to alter the course of the vessel ; but, being then under 
the influence of licpor, the Captain positively refused to do so, saying he 
" would follow his admiral if he went to h — 1." " Well," said Captain 
Eastman, "I have no notion of going there, and if you wont alter the 
course of the vessel, I will." " If you do," replied the Captain, "your 
head shall be a button for a halter the next morning." Informing his 
company of their danger, and relying on their support, Captain Eastman 
ordered the Captain below, and the helmsman to change his course. Thus 
they escaped the wreck which befel other vessels of the fleet. The next 
morning, the humbled Captain on his knees acknowledged his deliverer 
and begged his friendship. On the following day, the admiral came on 
board, and on seeing Captain Eastman, abruptly asked : " Captain East- 
man, where were you when the fleet was cast away?" " Following my 
admiral," replied he. " Following your tidmiral ! " he exclaimed ; " you 
Yankees are a pack of praying devils — you saved yourselves but sent my 
men to h — 1." ■■= 

Soon after his return, Eastman entered with zeal into the projected set- 
tlement of Penacook, and was one of its most influential, j^ersevering and 
useful citizens. He married, March 4, 1710, Sarah Peaslee^ of Haverhill, 
daughter of Colonel Nathaniel Peaslee. 

Among the many traditionary anecdotes, it is related that soon after 
settling in Penacook, Eastman made a journey to Haverhill, on horse-back, 
purchased a barrel of molasses, and contriving what was called a car, — 
formed with two shafts, one end of which was fastened to the horse and 
the other dragged on the ground — lashed on his barrel of molasses, and 
proceeded on his journey homeward, along the path through the wilderness. 
He got along very well until he came to the Soucook Eiver. After crossing, 
the hill was very steep, and the horse would frequently stop to rest a few 
moments. Having nearly reached the top of the hill, the rigging gave 
way, down went his barrel of molasses at full speed, and, striking a tree, 
was dashed in pieces. " Oh dear T" exclaimed the Captain, " my wife 
will comb my head — yes, and harrow it too ! "f 

Captain Eastman went to Cape Breton twice — the first time, March 1, 
1745, in command of a company, and was present at the reduction and 
surrender of Louisburg, June 16th. He returned November 10, 1745. 
Early the next year he went again, and returned home July 9, 1746. He 

o Bouton's Hist. Concord. t Bouton. 



256 HISTORY OF HAVERHILI,. 

died July 28. 1748, and bis descendants are to this day among the most 
prominent and influential citizens of Concord. 

This jDctition of Captain Eastman, is the first mention we can find of 
the commerce of Haverhill, or " trading by sea ; " though it hardly seems 
probable that he was the pioneer in that direction. And yet, there are 
strong reasons for believing that he was the first loho inade it a bushiess. 
The sugar and wine, for Mr. Gardner's ordination, were brought from 
Boston, on horseback, by Deacon White ; the lime for plastering the par- 
sonage house, in 1719, was hauled from Newbury, by oxen ; and the nails 
for the watch-house were brought from Ipswich, on horseback. These 
small matters, and many similar that might be mentioned, taken in con- 
nection with the silence of the records, in regard to the navigation of 
the Merrimack, favor the supposition, that, up to this time, but little use 
had been made of the river for commercial purposes. 

The lots in the fifth division of land, were drawn November 20th, 1721, 
and, as showing who, or rather whose representatives, were the commoners 
at this time, the list is well wortK inserting in this place : — 
" The first lot to Jno Ayer 27 — Jno Dow purchased from mr 

2 — Mr clemens Executors Coffins Eight 

3 — ]\Ir Joseph Jewitt 28 — peter Ayer 

4 — Jno page 29 — Richard Singletery 

5 — Thomas Davis 30 — Jno Ayer 

6 — Jno Williams sen. 31 — -Jno Hutchius 

7 — Eobert Ayer 32 — wm Simons on the Eight of Jno 

8 — James Davis jun Davis 

9_Tho Whittier 33— Eob Swan 

10 — John Johnson 34 — Jno chenary 

11 — Thomas Sleeper 35 — proprietors 

12 — Henry palmer 36 — Eichd littlchale 

13_\Villm Holdridg 37— Tho Eatton 

14_Stcphen Kent 38 — To nathll Ayer on his father Jno 

1 5 — proprietors Ayers Eight 

in_Samll Guile 39— Edward dark 

1 7 — To Eobt clement or Jno clemt 40 — Danll lad 

Eight 41 — James Davis sen 

18 — Georg Brown 42 — James fisk 

1 9 — ]\Iatthais Button 43 — Georg Corliss . 

20— Danll Hendrick 44— John Eatton 

21 — proprietors 45 — BarthoU Heath 

22 — obadiah Ayer on his father Jno 46 — Theophilas Satchesell 

Ayers Eight 47 — proprietors 

23 — Wm white 48 — hew shcrratt 

24— Tho linforth 49— Abraham Tyler 

25 — Mr Jno Ward 50 — To James pressess Eight," 

26 — Joseph peasly 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 257 

Tlie fact that all these names, except seven, '■■= are to be found in the 
records within three years from the date of the Indian deed, and before the 
town was incorporated, shows most clearly who were at this time, consid- 
ered to be the proprietors of the undivided lands in the town. They were 
the heirs and assigns of the orifjinal purchasers. Those to whom lands 
had been granted since that time, were considered to have no further rights 
than had been granted them. That is, they could only claim the amount of 
land that the proprietors had specifically granted them. " The inhabitants 
of Pentucket," — their ancestors, — ha,d purchased every foot of the ter- 
ritory covered by the Indian deed, and their heirs and assigns were 
therefore the sole proprietors of it. Grants and sales made subsequent to 
the original purchase, by the proprietors as a body, did not include an in- 
terest in the remaining undivided lands, but only affected the title to the 
particular lands thus alienated. This seems to us be the position taken 
by the " commoners," or "proprietors," at this time. 

The " «o?i-comm oners," or " legal voters " in the town, on the other 
hand, seem to have taken the ground, that the territory having been origin- 
ally granted to the inhabitants of the town generally, all the common or 
undivided lands remaining at any time, belonged to all ivho loere legal in- 
habitants, or voters, at the time the toion should please to dispose of them. 
It mattered not whether one had been an inhabitant, or legal voter, one 
day or fifty years ; it was sufiicient if he was entitled to vote in town affairs 
at the time the disposal of the undivided lands came up for consideration. 
If he was so entitled, he had an equal interest, or proprietorship, in such 
lands, with each and every other inhabitant of the town at the time. 

These widely different and opposing conclusions, furnish a key to the 
long, and, at times, warm controversy, carried on concerning the undivided 
lands in the town. 

The loss of the town's books, which we have before noticed, is doubtless 
to be accounted for by this controversy. When the books were finally 
recovered, it seems that they were in a mutilated state, and caused a great 
deal of trouble in the copying. At the annual meeting in 1721, it was 
voted "that there shall be a committee chosen to prefer a petition to the 
General Court for redi-ess, in behalf of the damage that the town sustained 
by the town-books being part of them cut and torn out." That is, they 
desired to know how they could obtain redress for the injury done to the 
books. 



o Joseph Jcwitt, Thomas Whittier, John Johnson, Thomas Sleeper, Thomas Linfoi-th, Thomas Eatton, 
James Pressey. 

33 



258 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

Perhaps we cannot better close this chapter, than by giving a brief ac- 
count of the introduction of tea into New England, which occurred about 
this time.-* 

The first tea-kettles were small copper articles, and were first nsed in 
Plymouth, in 1702, though, for a long time afterward, tea was but little 
used. The first cast iron tea-kettles, were made in Plympton, now Carver, 
between 1760 and 1765, and it was about this period that the use of tea 
became common. Lewis, in his History of Lynn, says, — " when ladies 
went to visiting parties, each one carried her tea-cup, saucer and spoon. 
The tea-cups were of the best china, very small, containing as much as a 
common wine-glass." 

From a letter written in England, in 1740, we copy the following ex- 
tractf : — 

" They are not much esteemed now that will not treat high & gossip 
about. Tea is now become the darling of our women. Almost every 
little tradesman's wife must set sipping tea for an hour or more in the 
morning, and it may be again in the afternoon, if they can get it, and 
nothing will please them to sip it out of but china ware, if they can get 
it. They talk of bestowing thirty or forty shillings upon a tea equipage, 
as they call it. There is the silver spoons, silver tongs, and many other 
trinkets that I cannot name." 

We are unable to say when tea was first introduced into this town, but 
it was probably soon after its introduction into Boston, as our people were 
in frequent communication with that place, and have never been far be- 
hind them in the adoption of new fashions. There is a tradition, that a 
Mr. Gilc, of this town, had a present sent to him, from Boston, of one 
pound of tea. His good wife knew not exactly how to make it, but she 
concluded to hang on her dinner-pot, and cook it in that. The dinner-pot 
was hung over the fire, partly filled with water, and the whole pound was 
put into it. But to make it more luscious, the good lady put in a large 
piece of beef for she intended to have a real dish of tea, — we presume 
that she had heard of the old proverb, "the more good things the better." 
After it had boiled sufficiently, the pot was taken off, " but the liquor was 
so despot strong," that they could not drink it; and, besides, it had made 
a complete jelly of the meat. 

In regard to the use of coffee in town, we have an equally amusing 
tradition : — 

About the year 1757, a party of gentlemen arrived from Boston and put 
up at Lieutenant Ebenezer Eastman's tavern. They brought their coflfee 

o Holmes, in his annals, under date of 1720, says, " Tliis year tea began to be used in New England." 
t Coffin. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 259 

witli them, and requested the landlady to cook it. The good lady, not 
being particularly acquainted with the article, nor the manner of cooking 
it, hardly knew what to do. But having a little self-confidence, with her 
other good qualities, she scorned to ask advice, and proceeded to cook it 
in her best manner. Accordingly, she took her bean-pot, put the coffee 
into it, filled it with water, and boiled it as she would beans. At length, 
the refreshment was ready, and when the gentlemen sat down, they were 
not a little surprised to see their coffee set before them, well boiled, in the 
kernel. They, however, took it very good-naturedly, and afterward in- 
structed her in the mystery of cooking coffee. 



260. HISTOKT OP HATEEHILL. 



CHAPTEE XVI. 



INDIAN TROUBLES. — 1713 TO 1725. 



The peace made witli tlie Indians, in 1713, proved of short duration. 
The French, who saw in the progress of the English, the downfall of their 
own power on the continent, employed the great influence of their mission- 
aries, Kalle, and La Chasse, to arouse the Indians, and stimulate them to 
jealousy and revenge." A conference was finally held with the Indians, at 
Arowsic Island, in 1717, by Governor Shutc, which resulted in a confirma- 
tion of the treaty of 1713, and the apparent satisfaction of the Indians. 
But the Fi-cnch were far from willing to allow the savages to be at peace 
with the English, and, in 1719, they again renewed their claims for the 
removal of the English from their lands, but a small force on the frontiers 
prevented an open violation of the treaty. 

In 1720, the Indians were persuaded to commit depredations, and parties 
from the Norridgwock and Penobscot tribes killed some cattle, and threat- 
ened the lives of the English. The Nova Scotia Indians went still further, 
and added murder to robbery. Further hostilities at this time were pre- 
vented by Colonel Walton, of New Hampshire, who was detached with a 
force of two hundred men to guard the frontiers. In August, 1721, a 
party of two hundred Indians, accompanied by their spiritual leaders, 
Ealle and La Chasse, under French colors, and armed, appeared at Arowsic, 
for a "talk" with the commander. This ended without satisfaction to 
either party, and the Indians left with complaints and threats. They 
warned the English to remove from their lands in three weeks, or they 
would kill, burn, and destroy. Iritated by the conduct of the French, 
government determined to attempt the removal of the cause of all the 
trouble, and for that purpose, three hundred men were sent to Norridgwock, 
with orders to seize Father Kalle, and bring him to Boston. No other 
success attended this expedition, than the seizure of his private papers, 
which fully revealed the secret machinations of the French. 

This invasion of their head-quarters, exasperated the enemy in an unus- 
ual degree, and, in June, 1722, a party of sixty men, in twenty canoes, 
captured nine families, at Merrymeeting 5ay, and committed other depre- 
dations, soon followed by the destruction of Brunswick, Maine. 

*> Sec nutcbinson, Douglas, and utbcrs, upon this puiut. 



HISTORY or HATESHILL. 261 

Immediately after the news of the latter reached Boston, the Governor 
and council made a formal declaration of •war. 

Though so far removed from the immediate vicinity of the troubles, the 
inhabitants of this town well knew that they were not safe from savage 
outrage, and they determined to be prepared for any emergency. "With 
the bloody scenes of August 29, 1708, still fresh in their memory, we need 
not wonder that their first care was for their minister. At a meeting held 
on the 10th of August, the Selectmen were ordered " to build a good fort 
round Kev. Mr. Brown's house with what speed they could." 

The enemy committed no further violence that season, but early in the 
spring, they divided into small parties and harassed the whole line of fron- 
tier settlements, — Falmouth, Scarboro, Berwick, Wells, York, Dover, and 
Lampray Eiver. This intelligence, as may be supposed, thoroughly 
alarmed the people of Haverhill, and, at a meeting called March 19th, the 
town voted to buy a house of Jeremiah Page, and set it up between the 
parsonage house and Samuel Smith's, for a watch-house, which was accord- 
ingly done, with all possible dispatch.'-' 

On the opening of the spring of 172-t, the enemy were again found in 
numerous parties, scattered over the country, plundering and murdering 
the inhabitants, and threatening the entire destruction of the English 
settlements. A constant watch was found necessary in the frontier towns, 
and those less exposed were called upon to furnish their proportion of 
soldiers for the common defence. In July, Colonel Noyes, of Newbury, was 
ordered to send twelve men to Haverhill, and six to Amesbury, to serve as 
scouts. A few weeks later, (September 15,) " John "White, Capt ; Richard 
Kimball Capt; Jonathan Woodman, Capt; and Richard Hazzen, Lieut;" 
wrote from this town to the governor, strongly urging the importance of 
sending an army of men to AVinnipiseogee Lake, to surprise the Indians 
in that vicinity, and utterly rout them. 

Determined to beard the lion in his den, government fitted out a force of 
two hundred and eight men, and attacked the head quarters of the Indians 
at Xorridgwock. The settlement was entirely destroyed, and about eighty 
killed and drowned, among whom was father Ralle, the Jesuit missionary. 
This achievement completely broke the power of the Norridgwocks.f 

The nest and last considerable engagement in this war, took place at 
Pequawket, now Fry burg, Me., in May, 1725, by a party of volunteers, 

o The town clerk made a journey to Ipswich for the nails, on horseback. At the raising, " two quarts 
Bum " were employed, at an expense of four shillings. 
t Sea Hutchinion, for a full account. 



262 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

under Captain Lovewell. In this bloody fight, the English, after sustaining 
themselves against great odds, almost an entire day, were left in possession 
of the field. 

Lovcwell's (or Lovell's) company consisted of forty-six men, besides 
himself, including a chaplain and surgeon. Four of these men were from 
Haverhill, viz: Abiel-Asten, Ebcnezer Ayer, Doctor William Ayer, and 
Zebediah Austin.''^ Captain Lovewell was from Dunstable, and had 
already distinguished himself on several occasions. 

The Haverhill men probably joined Lovewell at this town, where the 
expedition was furnished with supplies, by John White, who had charge of 
the Province stores in Haverhill. f They started about April 16, 0. S. 
On arriving at Ossipee lake, one of their number was taken sick, and they 
built a small fort, as a place of refuge in case of mishaps, and left the sick 
man, with the doctor, and eight men to hold the fort. With the rest of his 
company, Lovewell boldly marched for Pequaquake, to attack the bold 
Paugus in his own home. On the morning of May 8th, as they came near 
Saco Pond, they discovered a solitary Indian shooting ducks, and, leaving 
their packs unguarded, they prepared to attack the enemy whom they 
supposed must be near by. Not finding the enemy as they had expected, 
the company were leisurely retui-ning upon their own trail, when they fell 
into an ambuscade. It seems that Paugus and a party of about forty 
Indians, returning from a scout down the Saco, came upon the packs of 
Lovewell's men, and finding them less in number then their own, they 
resolved to attack them. For this purpose they formed an ambuscade, and 
when the company reached the little brook on the east side of the above 
named pond, the Indians rose on all sides, fired, and rushed upon them with 
yells of defiance. Captain Lovewell fell at the first fire. His company 
immediately returned the fire, killing nine of the enemy, and then scattered, 
each getting behind a tree, and firing as he got a good chance. Thus the 
fight was continued, with fatal eflFect on both sides, until toward night, 
when several of the Indians had succeeded in getting near the pond, and 
among them Paugus, who took refuge behind a tree within talking distance 
of John Chamberlain, who knew him personally. Their guns having become 
too foul to. fire, the two agreed to go down to the pond and cleanse them. 
Each, with an eye upon his antagonist, endeavored to clean and load his 
gun in the quickest time possible, and then take the life of the other. 

o Abiel AstcB belonged in that part of Haverhill, now Salem, N. H., where he was living in 1790, aged 
eighty. — Belknap. 

Zebediah Austin belonged in that of Haverhill, now Methuen, He married Sarah Gatterson, AprU 
18, 1729. 

t State Archiyes. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 263 

Their movements were simultaneous, until they drew their ramrods to send 
home the leaden messengers of death. In his exteme excitement, Paugus 
dropped his ramrod, and though he scarce lost a second's time by the mishap, 
it was enough for his opponent. Just as Paugus brought his gun to hia 
shoulder, Chamberlain fired, and the noted chief fell dead ! 

Soon after sunset, the firing ceased. About midnight, the survivors of 
Lovewell's men assembled, and found only twenty-three of their brave 
companions alive. Of these, one was just breathing his last; two more 
were unable to travel ; and eleven others wounded. The latter marched 
ofi" the ground with the nine who were not much wounded, but four of 
them soon gave out, and were left by their companions, who kept on to the 
Fort. On reaching the latter, they found it entirely deserted ! It after- 
ward appeared, that Hassel, one of the men, had fled in the first part of the 
fight, and given such an exaggerated account of the afliiir, that the occu- 
pants of the fort immediately abandoned it, and retreated toward home. 
After much suff"ering, the survivors of the bloody fight arrived at Dunstable 
on the eleventh of May. 

Soon after this fight the Penobscot Indians expressed a desire for peace, 
and a treaty was executed in December, 1725, and confirmed at Falmouth 
the next July. In 1727, the tribes which had not been represented in this 
conference, notified the government of their desire to make a public con- 
firmation of the peace, which was subsequently done at Falmouth, in 
July, 1727. 

The peace which succeeded was of long continuance, and though, during 
the subsequent difficulties with the French, the frontiers were often 
harrassed by the Indians, Haverhill was never again molested by them. 
The settlement of a line of towns to the north, at last completely protected 
this town, after having been a frontier town for more than three-fourths of 
a century. During that period more than sixty of its inhabitants were 
killed by the Indians, and between fifty and sixty captured. Some of the 
latter were never heard from afterward, though most of them were ransomed, 
or escaped, and returned home. 

That the situation of this town during these troubles was by no means 
pleasant, is plainly seen in the fact that a scouting company was formed 
in town the summer following Lovewell's fight, and were in actual service 
during the months of September and October. The immediate cause which 
led to the organization of the company, we find given in a letter from 
Joshua Bailey and Jonathan Woodman, of this town, to the Governor, 
dated August 30, 1725, in which they state that Indians had been recently 
seen '-lurking in the woods, guns heard, &c." The men were employed as 



264 HISTORY OF nATERHILL. 

scouts, or "Centinels," and a line of them were kept constantly posted on 
the frontier of the town, to give the alarm in case of the appearance of 
the enemy. ■' 

From the original " Muster Eoll of Moses Hazzen, Ensign," we copy 
the names of those under his command, in that service, from September 
6th to October 27th, 1725 : — Moses Hazzen, Ensign; Eobert Ford, Wm. 
Heath Jun., Phineas Foster, John Dow, Timothy Duston, David Emerson, 
Ebcnezer Aycrs, Samuel Merril, "William Mitchel, Centinds. 

With the following incident, illustrative of Indian sagacity, we close 
this part of the early history of the town : f 

" At the mouth of Baker's Paver, in the town of Plymouth, X. H., the 
Indians had a settlement, where have been found Indian graves, bones, 
gun-barrels, stone mortars, pestles, and other articles in use among them. 
In this place, it is said they were attacked hy Capt. Baker, (from whom 
the river derived its name) and a party from Haverhill, Mass., who defeated 
them, killed a number, and destroyed a large quantity of fur. There is a 
story respecting an expedition of Capt. Baker, which, if correct, and we 
see no reason to doubt its correctness, shows the sagacity of Indians. — 
A friendly Indian had accompanied Capt. Baker in his expedition, and 
from the movement of the savages was satisfied that they had sent to 
Winnepisiogee or Pequawkett ponds for aid. He assured Capt. B. of the 
fact, and told him what they did must be done immediately ; that they had 
better make their escape or they would be overpowered by numbers and 
be destroyed. And on their march down the river Pemigewasset, he urged 
them not to stop, telling them they would be pursued. But when they 
reached the brook at Salisbury village, the men were so fatigued that they 
said they must stop and refresh themselves. The Indian told them to 
build each one a fire and cut several sticks apiece to broil their meat on, 
to burn the end of each as though thus used, and stick them into the 
ground, and then proceed as soon as possible. It was but a very short 
time after they had set out before the Indians came to the place where 
they had refreshed, and counting the fires and the number of sticks, said 
the English were too strong for them, and gave up the pursuit." 

° In 1723, John .Clement asked to be released from paying the rent of the "Parsonage farm" the 
previous year, on the ground that he was driven off the land by the war. — Toivn Records. 
t We copy ft-om the Collections of the New Hampshire Historical Society— Vol. l.j 



HISTOEY OF HAVEUniLI,. 265 



CHAPTER XYII. 



1720 TO 1728. 



At tlie annual meeting of tlie town for 1722, it was, for tlie first time, 
proposed that the mending of the highways should be done by a rate, but 
the proposition was promptly negatived. 

This year, and for more than a hundred years after, persons were chosen 
to see that the " fish courses " were kept clear, so that the fish might not 
be prevented or hindered from going up the streams in their appropriate 
season. 

At the annual meeting in 1723, the subject of cchools again came up 
for consideration, and three new school-houses were ordered to be built — 
one in the north part of the town, between Daniel Ela's and Widow Mary 
Whittier's, one in the north-westerly part, near the house of Jonathan 
Duston, and the other in the westerly part, near "William Whitticker's. 
It was also voted to hire a school-master, " to move for the town's benefit 
to the several parts of the town." Eichard Hazzen kept school "three 
quarters " this year, — one quarter at the house of Widow Mary Whittier. 
He was paid eleven pounds per quarter. 

At the same meeting, the following petition was presented, signed by 
four of the inhabitants"' : — " Whereas your petitioners having their habi- 
tations so distant from the meeting-house, that, at any time being belated, 
we cannot get into any seat ; but are obliged to sit squeased on the stairs 
where we cannot hear the minister and so get little good by his preaching, 
though we endeavour to ever so much ; and there being a vacant place be- 
twixt the front pew and the pew on the side gallery over the head of the 
stairs, we humbly request lij^erty to erect a seat over the same." The 
petition wa,s granted. 

At the same time several womenf petitioned for liberty " to erect a seat 
or pew over the head of the stairs, not damnifying the stairway," which 
was also gi'anted. 

Abiall Messer was granted the privilege of keeping a ferry near his 
house for five years. Messer, we believe, lived in that part of the town 
now Methuen. 

<' James Sanders, Jr., John Eatton, Jr., Nathaniel Peaslee, Jr., Joseph Merrill. 

t Sarah Hazzen, Hannah Hazzen, Hannah Clement, Buth Clement, Rachal Sanders, Abigail Peaslee, 
Susanna Peaslee. 

34 



2G6 HISTORY OF nATERHILL. 

In the fall of 1723, the Selectmen of Haverhill, and the Selectmen of 
Kingston met, and run the line between the two towns/--' 

The first mention we find of seines, or nets, for fishing in the river, is in 
the records of this year (1723) when Captain Joshua Bayley, Ebenezcr 
Eastman, and others, petitioned for liberty to fish in the river with a net 
" from Ebcnezer Eatton's down to Hardy's landing." The petition was 
refused. 

. We now approach one of the most critical periods in the history of our 
town ; — that in which the disputes and difficulties between the "proprie- 
tors" or "commoners," and the rest of the land holders in town reached 
the culmiuating point. "We have already seen that, for some time, there 
had been an increasing feeling of dissatisfaction on the part of the latter 
with the proceedings of the former. The non-proprietors had seen the 
common and undivided lands of the town gradually grooving less and less 
under the frequent grants of the proprietors, until the most obtuse could 
not fail to see that ere many years should elapse, none of them would be 
left, as such. 

The largest, and most valuable, of the remaining tracts of undivided land 
was the portion still left of that laid out in 1065 as a "cow common. "| 
This had been much reduced from its original dimensions, but was still a 
large and valuable tract of land. The proprietors had several times dis- 
cussed the proposition to lay it out into lots, and dispose of them, but as 
yet had not fully decided to do so. 

The question of the ownership of these lands was yet, in the minds 
of many, a mooted question, and the dispute in relation to them now be- 
gan to show visible signs of its unhappy tendency. Five meetings were 
held in succession, and not a vote was passed. The marginal refer- 
ence to one of them says, that it was "precious time spent for nought." 
The two parties were fast approaching open hostility, and unless some com- 
promise could be made, it was evident that the results must inevitably be 
disastrous to the town. Under these circumstances, a committee was 
chosen by the " town " (September 2d, 1723,) to confer with the common- 
ers, " in order to make some agreement about common lands in Haverhill," 
and the meeting adjourned to hear the report. The town committee asked 
for "a proposition, in order to make peace." 

° The Charter of Kingston was granted in 1094, and included what now forms the towns of Kingston, 
East Kingston, Danville, and Sandown .and portions of Plaistow and Hampstcad. 

t According to the vote of March 7, 16G.5, all the land within the following hounds was forever to be a 
cow-common: — Within the bounds of Fishing river; and from thence to a brook that goeth to tlie hither 
north meadow ; and from thence as tlie cart path goeth, to the meadow of Bartholomew Heath, which was 
formerly George Corliss's meadow: and from thence to the East meadow river, and so -within the bounds 
of the cast meadow river do\yii to the Great river. 



HISTOKY OF HAVERHILL 267 

^'V^lell the adjourned meeting was opened, it was found that no reply 
had yet been received from the commoners, and another adjournment was 
made. At the next meeting, the committee reported that the town's propo- 
sition had been made to the commoners, at one of their meetings, and was 
"met with silence, & nothing more." This silence of the commoners was 
not, however, to be attributed to their sullenness or disinclination to ac- 
cept the olive branch of peace, as will appear plain from their proceedings 
immediately afterward. 

Early in December, (December 5, 1723,) several of the proprietors 
petitioned for a meeting of the proprietors, as follows : — 

"To Jno White esqr: proprietors dark greeting, whereas There are 
severall persons in ye Town of Haverhill of long & ancient standing in ye 
Town, who by reason yt They have little or no Eight in ye Comon lands 
either by Them selves or claiming under Their Ancestors are very uneasy 
att ye division & disposall of said lands to & among ye proprietors & 
reall owners of itt. Therefore wee ye subscribers proprietors Taking into 
Consideration ye damage of Contention, & yt peace may be made, we re- 
quest yt There may bee a meeting of je proprietors to bee att ye meeting 
house in Haverhill on monday ye sixth day of January next ensuing att 
Ten of ye clock in ye forenoon for Reasons following, first yt if ye pro- 
prietors see cause They chuse a Comitte to debate ye matter wth such per- 
sons who have been of long & ancient standing in ye Town Though They 
have little or noe Plight To any Comon lands either by Them selves or An- 
cestors & To see upon what Conditions such persons will be satisfied & To 
make report to ye proprietors soe yt They may Give them some lands if 
They see Cause. 

secondly yt They chuse a Comitte To debate wth such persons who lay 
claim to Eights not yett allowed To see what will satisfie Them & make 
report Thereof to ye proprietors yt soe They may act upon itt if They see 
Cause." 

The meeting was held accordingly, and Deacon James Ayer, Nathaniel 
Peasly, and Eichard Hazzen, were chosen a committee to meet the non- 
proprietors and ascertain what would satisfy them. 

The committee met the latter at the tavern of Cornet James Pecker, on 
the 2Sth of January, and reported to the proprietors, on the 5 th of Feb- 
ruary, the following, as the result of their " debate " : — 

"Jno Sanders did declare & say yt as to ye comons They were in ye 
hands of ye Law & yt hee was easy wth ye determination of ye Law, for 
if ye Town lost, his Eight with ye comons would bee as good as now. 



268 HISTORY OF IIAVERHILL. 

Joshua Swan would not bee easy iinless They would grant him lo acres 
between Samll Davis & Job elements. 

mathew Harriman junr declared yt hee would bee uneasy unless all ye 
fences erected on ye cow comon were demolished & itt lay according to ye 
vole of ye ancient fathers & ye proprietors records Burnt. 

AVilliam Johnson would not be easy unless They would fling up ye cow 
comon. 

All those above accounted are unreasonable in Their demands & soe 
(we) acted nothing upon it. 

All ye other persons under written To ye number of about 39 persons 
Though They had uoe materiall objection against ye division of ye Comons 
yett since They had bore charges lost friends by ye Indians : &c did desire 
some particular pieces of land upon ye proprietors grant of which They 
would bee easy & for ye future rest contented & proceeded To request as 
followeth (viz) 

Jno Stevens sen: & Jun: proposes To have about six acres neer Aaron 
Stephens 

Isack Bradly Bradly requests six acres neer hony ball mill 

Stephen Dow requests five acres beyond nicholas whites 

Joseph Guile requests about Two acres by his house part is allready 
fenced in 

Haniel & Edward Samll & Timothy dark requesls six acers where Their 
mother lives 

James Heath about Ten acers neer Jno Harrimans Mill 

Josiah Heath Junr four acres neer moses Stephens 

Samll Smith Ten acres neer Jno Harrimans mill 

Eobert ford Requests 10 acres where There is Comon neer hogg hill mill 

Abraham Bradly about six acres neer yt his brother Isack requested 

Ens: VVhitikcr yt whcras he hath half a right To lay out in ye Cow 
Comon They would lett him have a whole Eight & hee will bee easy 

nathll nierrill: Jun: for himsclfe & brethren requests Ten acres in yt 
Comon beyond Henery Sanders house 

nathll Johnson requests Eight acres next his own land 

Tho Eatton requests To have about Ten acres on west meado hill Wil- 
liam Whittakcr Junr 10 acres on ye Right hand of ye way yt leads To 
Honyball mill mill joyning to ye mill pond 

Joseph page requests about Three acres where hee now lives 

Benjamin Standlee requests about five acres of yt Comon beyond Hen- 
ery Sanders 



HISTORY OF nAYEEIIILL. 269 

peter Green senr: (Sj Junr: Requests yt They would grant Them all yt 
Comon which They have withinfenced & yt att ye south of Their land 
being part of Their Eight allready laid out & yt att ye East End of Their 
land, & lay out Their Comon Eight in some other place, They having a 
Convenient Eoad To ye Sour meadow 

Andx'ew mitchell: senr requests about six acres in yt Comon beyond 
Henery Sanders, and yt stripp of Comon betwixt ye highway & ye farm 
called Hainses farm & a small peice By his barn 

Jonathan Eastman requests 20 acres in providence neck 
Samll marble senr: Twenty acres in providence neck north of ye Copls 
pond farm--' 

Stephen Webster Twenty acres north of Copls pond farm as wee goe to 
providence neck 

Joseph Whittier proposes about Eight acres on ye north of The way y 
leads from nicolas whites To Gorlys meadow 

Abraham page requests about Eight acres next to yt Whittier requested 
John Webster & nathan webster 40 acres To both in providence neck 
Deacon mash requests about Two acres being a small strip lying be- 
twixt land laid out To him in ye Cow Comon & ye way yt goes to Jeremy 
pages 

Aaron Stephens about four acres Joyning on his own land 
Samll Wortheu three acres betwixt Jno Harrimans mill & ye wooden 
bridg 

Abiall mercer about 5 acers neer obadiahs meadow 
Jno Lad a small peice by his own land about Two acres 
Job elements about Ten acres next yt william whittier requests for 
Christopher Bartlit 12 acres next to yt hee bought of Guile & proposes 
To have his Two Comon Eights laid out adjoyning To This 

matthew Harriman senr about Eight acres beyond nathll Johnsons land 
Jno Heath about six acres below wainwrights mill on The Easterly side 
of ye Eiver 

Jno Clement six acres neer hony ball mill." 
Upon the reading of the report of the committee, the proprietors 
" Voted yt ye several parcells of land petitioned for or desired by ye 
severall persons, according To ye return of ye sd committee Bee liereby 
granted To them on This Condition yt They rest satisfied & Contented wth 
ye division of ye Comon land according to ye proprietors order, & yt for 
ye future They appeare In all Town meetings, unless hindered by extra- 
ordinary Casualty & doe oppose By voate, & argument, all such persons & 

» The Pond here referred to, was probably that now known as "Captain's Pond," in Salem, N .H. 



270 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

voatcs as any way disturbe or hinder ye proprietors in Their peaceable In- 
joyments of Their lands divided or undivided & yt They Indeavor To 
hinder any farther process in law about yc same, & farther peace & unitie 
againc as far as may be, & yt They Assighn Articklcs agreeable To This 
voate betwixt Themselves & The Comitte which shall be appointed for yc 
purpose, before ye said land Bee laid out To them, And yt ye particular 
persons To whome ye land is granted shall pay ye Comitte yt have been 
allready Impowercd about having ye proposalls of sevcrall persons 
for laud To be Given them, & alsoc what farther charge ye Comitte may 
be att about ye same, for ye laying of itt out & for recording yc same. 
This was voated & granted By a full voate." 

A committee was then chosen to draw tip the proposed articles, and, on 
the persons alluded to signing them, the committee were to lay them out 
the laud requested. 

This liberal concession on the part of the proprietors did not, however, 
secure a complete settlement of the difi&culty, though it would seem, from 
the silence of the records of the following year, that it had done so. But 
no sooner did the proprietors fully decide to lay out the cow-common into 
lots and appoint commissioners to lay out highways through it, than the 
opposition broke out afresh. In the warrant for the annual meeting for 
1725, (March 2d) we find the following, which plainly shows the deep- 
seated hostility to the claims of the proprietors : — 

" 2 And to see whether ye Town Avill chuse a Comitee to Draw Money 
out of ye Town Treasury to seport one or more of ye Comoners to take a 
method in law to recover their Eights from ye Incroachments of ye Com- 
oners, That it may yet ly in Comon as by ye Cow Comon grant made in 
March 1G64-5." 

" 3. And to Chuse a Comittce to prefer a petition to ye General Assem- 
bly to acquaint yt Honorably House with ye Irregular method of our 
Comoners in their last actions abought ye Cow Comon, and to see what ye 
towue may think proper onyt acount & to doe it on ye Towns cost." 

The two parties were now in open hostility, and on the day of the above 
meeting, finding themselves in a minority, the "commoners" withdrew 
and organized a separate meeting, and chose a separate set of town officers. 
Captain Joshua Bayley was moderator of the non-commoners ; and Captain 
John White of the commoners. The former body chose Ensign Thomas 
"Whittier, John Sanders, and Anthony Colby, a committee under the second 
article of the warrant ; and made the same persons, with the selectmen,-' 
a committee under the third article. 

* CapUin Joshua Bajlcy, James Sanders, and Christopher Bartlctt. 



HISTORY 01 HATERHILI.. 271 

The next meeting of the non-commoners was held April 8th, the war- 
rant for which is signed by Benjamin Stevens, "one of his majestic^ 
justices of ye county of Essex," in answer to a petition to him " signed 
by more than fifty hands." 

The business to be done, was, " To see whether the Town will Impower 
ye Select men of Haverhill, or chuse a Comittee to prosecut on ye towns 
Cost to final Issue any of ye faction that are Indevoring to disturb & Dis- 
quiet ye Town Clark in his peacable Improvement of ye town Books." 
" " '■'■' =•' " and to prosecut any person yt by Color of their Election 
in yt meeting where Capt White pretended to be moderator yt shall pre- 
sume to act as such officer." 

Upon the first article of the warrant, Captain Joshua Bayley, James 
Sanders, Thomas Haines, Daniel Bodwell, and Christopher Bartlett, were 
chosen a Committee to prosecute " any of yt faction," &c. 

It was then declared, by a unanimous vote, that the officers chosen at 
the previous meeting, and who were called by name, should be supported 
through any difficulty that might arise in executing their respective duties ; 
that " ye small party where Capt White pretended to be a moderator on 
March 2, 1724-5, was not according to the town's will, nor according to 
ye consent & former practice of our Town;" that "the Town doe Declare 
against Mr Eichard Hazzen Jr his being town Clerk ;" and that the select- 
men should prosecute to final issue any person or persons that by color of 
his Election in the meeting aforesaid," should presume to act as such 
officer. The meeting then adjourned for two weeks, at which time " some 
discourse passed," but no vote was taken. They met twice afterward, but 
adjourned on both occasions without doing any business; — the last meeting 
being held June 21st, and after the following warrant had been issued.* 

The non-proprietors having appealed to the General Court, that body 
passed the following resolve, oi* order, June 4, 1725 : — 

" Whereas at the anniversary of the town-meeting in the town of Hav- 
erhill, in March last, there happened to be two contendiug parties who 
assembled at the meeting-house, and did there and then choose two sets of 
town-officers, whereby great difficulties arose in the said town, and consid- 
erable expense occasioned in the law ; and it is feared that no good gov- 
ernment can be supported unless some speedy care be taken to prevent 
these disorders. For preventing whereof, and to put an end to said strife, 
it is ordered by this General Court, that Joshua Swan and Nathaniel ■ 
Peasley, Constables for the town in 1724, be, and are hereby required to 

o We do not learn thiit the commoners held any meetings during this time, and presume that they 
did not. 



272 HISTORY OF nATERinLL. 

warn the freeholders and other inhabitants to assemble at the meeting- 
house in Haverhill, on the ninth of June, at ten o'clock, A. M., and then 
and there to choose all the town-officers which the law requires to be 
chosen in the month of March annually ; and that Eichard Kent, Esq." 
be desired to be present at the said meeting ; and he is empowered to mod- 
erate the affairs, and no other person be allowed to vote but such as are 
lawfully qualified ; and that the proceedings of both parties at the afore- 
said meeting of March 2d arq declared null and void, and the charge to 
be borne as this Court shall order." 

A meeting was accordingly held on the ninth of June, and Eichard Kent, 
Esq., presided. The opening of the meeting was folloAved by some discus- 
sion concerning the town's affairs, but no vote was taken. The meeting was 
adjourned till the afternoon, when the Moderator ordered the votes to be 
brought in for a town Clerk. But few, however, were cast, and no Clerk 
was declared to be chosen, and the meeting was adjourned by the Moderator 
to the 23d of June. 

The attention of the General Court being again called to the matter, that 
body, (June 15, 1725,) 

" Resolved, That Whereas by special order of this Court, the town of 
Haverhill was assembled on the 9th inst. for the choice of town officers, 
and no other than a Town Clerk was then chosen, although he was not 
declared by the moderator, & said meeting having been adjourned notwith- 
standing the other town officers were to be chosen the same day : 

"Resolved, That John Eaton be and is hereby declared Town Clerk for 
Haverhill, according to the choice made the ninth of June, as aforesaid, 
and that the freeholders (&c) assemble at the meeting house in Haverhill 
June 23, according to the adjournment, and that they then and there 
choose all other town officers, and that Eichard Kent Esqr, hereby declared 
moderator of the meeting, be directed to administer the oath by law ap- 
pointed to John Eaten and the other officers to be chosen, any law usage or 
custom to the contrary notwithstanding." 

This prompt and energetic action of the Legislature, supported, as it 
must have been, by the sober second thought of the contending parties, had 
the desired effect. The town met according to adjournment, and completed 
the election of their officers. 

From this time forward, we find in the records no allusions whatever to 
these contentions. The meetings of the " Town," and those of the " Pro- 
prietors of the common and undivided lands in the Town," were held 
separately, and the records kept in separate books. The officers were also 

o Of Newbury. 



HISTORY OF HAYERniLL. 273 

cliosen separately, thougli the same persons not unfrequently held office in 
both organizations at one and the same time. The proprietors continued 
to hold their meetings ; to give, sell, and exchange the undivided lands ; for 
nearly forty years afterward, — giving and selling to, and exchanging 
with, "commoners" and "non-commoners," — hut we find no hint in 
either record or paper, of either jjarty, as to the further settlement of 
the difficulty between them. The most reasonable solution we can give 
of the problem is this ; — that the right of the proprietors to the lands 
claimed by them was too manifest, and too well supported by reason and 
authority, to aiford any inducements to the non-proprietors to continue the 
contest. 

Thus was brought to a close the long, and at times, bitter contention, 
about the common and undivided lands in the town. The right of the 
"proprietors" was fully acknowledged, and though, after portions of 
the town had been set off to other towns, and particularly after the line 
between Massachusetts and New Hampshire was run, the right of the pro- 
prietors to continue to dispose of such lauds in those portions of the 
original township was questioned, yet in all cases where the matter came 
before the courts, (and they were not a few) the claim of the proprietors 
was fully sustained. And we find that, as late as 1745 to 1750, such 
lands were frequently petitioned for, by residents in the several towns, 
and were disposed of by the " Haverhill Proprietors." 

In the spring of 1724, Stephen Barker, and others, of the western part 
of the town, petitioned the General Court for a new town, to be formed 
by setting off that portion of Haverhill above Hawke's Meadow Brook. 
Captain John White was appointed Agent of this town to oppose the petition. 

In November of the following year, the inhabitants of that section 
petitioned the town for a school in their neighborhood, — which was grant- 
ed.'-' They were also " allowed ten pounds to pay a minister to preach there," 
if they got one that year. These grants did not, however, induce them to 
consent to remain as a part of Haverhill, and shortly after (December 8, 
1725) the General Court gave them an act of incorporation, under the name 
of Methuen.f 

'> A Mr. Heath was the Schoolmaster. 

t The first church in Mcthucn was formed October 29, 1729, and Rev. Christopher Sargeant was ordained 
as its pastor, November 5, the same year. The next January, the society petitioned the " proprietors of 
the common and undivided lands in Haverhill, and that part of Methuen formerly contained within ye 
ancient bounds of Haverh'll," for a parcel of land for a parsonage. The proprietors not only gave them 
the land, but also donated a piece to their minister. 

In May, 1737, the inhabitants of the " second parish in Mcthucn, being about to build a meeting house," 
also petitioned the proprietors of Haverhill for land. The proprietors voted to gi\e them fifty acres, and 
also voted fifty acres to their "first ordained minister." These lands were all in Methuen. 

35 



274 



HISTORY OP nAVERIIILL. 



In June. 1725, Benjamin Stevens and others, petitioned the General 
Court for a township of land at " Pcnnycook," (now Concord, N. H.,) 
Avhich was granted them, and on the 2d of February, 172G, a Committee of 
the General Court met at the tavern of Ebenezer Eastman (one of the 
petitioners) in Haverhill, for the purpose of admitting settlers. After much 
careful inquiry and examination, the requisite number — one hundred — 
wore admitted. Among them were thirty-six Haverhill men.-' 



"Obadiah Ayer, 
"Samuel Ayer, 
'-John Ayer, 
"Capt Joshua Bailey, 
Nathaniel Clement, 
Benjamin Carleton, 
Nehemiah Carleton, 
Christopher Carleton, 
Edward Clark, 
Ephraim Davis, 
'■•'Josepli Davis, 
"Samuel Davis, 



Stephen Emerson, 
Nehemiah Heath, 
"Moses Hazzen, 
"Eichard Hazzen, Jr., 
Timothy Johnson, 
John Merrill, 
Nathaniel Page, 
Thomas Page, 
Joseph Page, 
"Natlianiel Peaslee, 
"Eobert Peaslee, 
John Pecker, 
James Pecker, 



Jeremiah Pecker, 
John Sanders, 
John Sanders, Jr., 
Jonathan Sanders, 
"Nathaniel Sanders, 
Nicolas AVhite, 
AYilliam White, 
John White, 
AVilliam Whittier, 
Jacob Shute, 

Total, thirty-six. 



Capt Ebenezer Eastman, 

Ohadlah Ayer, (born May 9, 1G89) was the son of Samuel, (who was 
killed by the Indians in the attack on Haverhill, August 29, 1708) and 
a descendant of John Ayer. one of the early settlers of Haverhill. 
Obadiah was a graduate of Harvard College (1710) ; studied for the min- 
istry ; a man of talents and influence, but subject occasionally to aberra- 
tions of mind, at which times he is said to have had lodgings in Boston 
provided for him by his particular friend, John Hancock. "We do not 
learn that he ever married. He kept the Grammar School in Haverhill 
six months of the year he was graduated, (for which he received fifteen 
pounds,) and also the next year, and probably for several years after, as 
we find his name mentioned again in 1713. It does not appear that he 
finally settled in Concord. 

John Ayer (born April 7, 1705,) was a brother of Obadiah. He mar- 
ried Mary Johnson, of Haverhill. Their children, born in Haverhill, 
were — Abigail, who died unmarried; Timothy, who married Elizabeth 
AVhite, and lived in Bradford, Vermont ; and John, who lived iu Bradford, 
Mass., John was doubtless at Concord in the earliest period of its settle- 
ment, but did not finally settle there. 



o Those designated by a *> were proprietors, but did not ietlU .it Concord. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 275 

Samuel Ayer, son of James, (a brother of Obadiah and John) was born 
and lived in Haverhill. He married Ann Hazzen. Their children, (all 
born in Haverhill) were — Mary, born December 23, 1738, married Sam- 
uel Morrison, of Sanbornton, N. H. ; Anna, born September 22, 1740, 
married Deacon John Kimball of Concord ; Samuel, born November 29, 
1742, married Sarah Chase, of Haverhill ; Elizabeth (1) and Elizabeth (2) 
died young; Elizabeth (3) born June 22, 17-1:8, married Jacob Ela, of 
Haverhill ; Hannah, born August 25, 1751, married John Bradley, of Con- 
cord ; Euth, born December 4, 1753, married Dr. Peter <jreen, of Concord ; y 
Lydia, born December, 1755, died young; Eichard, born May 12, 1757, 
married Susanna Sargeant ; James, born January 1, 17G1, married Mary, 
daughter of Dr. James Brickett, of Haverhill. 

(Eichard, son of Samuel, appears to have been the first permanent set- 
tler of the name in Concord. He married Susanna Sargeant, of Methuen, 
by whom he had eleven children, all born in Concord.) 

Captain Joshua Bailey, born October 30, 1685, was probably a descend- 
ant of John Bailey, — who settled in Newbury, 1650, •' — and was for 
many years one of the principal men of Haverhill. He was moderator, 
and one of the selectmen, from 172-i, to 1734, and subsequently modera- 
tor for several years. He was probably a physician, as we find a " Dr. 
Bayley " mentioned in 1718 ; and again in 1722, " Dr. Bailey " went to 
Boston for soldiers. He married Elizabeth Johnson, about 1715. Chil- 
dren, — Ann, born March 6, 1715-16, died May 26, 1716; Mary, born 
June 13, 1717, died November 18, 1718; Sarah, born February 22, 
1718-19; Elizabeth, born November 8, 1721, died May 5, 1736 ; Mary, 
born February 23, 1723, died May 11, 1736 ; Anna, born March 4, 1725, 
died January, 1750; Abigail, born January 10, 1729-30. 

"Joshua Bayley the husband d Feb 7, 1752. Elizabeth Bayley the 
wife d Oct 21, 1773." 

Nathaniel Clement (son of John, and Elizabeth Ayres) was born in 
Haverhill, June, 1689. He married Sarah Merrill, about 1714. Chil- 
dren, — Abiah, born May 27, 1715 ; Elizabeth, born March 6, 1716-17 ; 
Nathaniel, born October 16, 1719 ; Sarah, born March 2, 1721 ; Jeremiah, 
born June 15, 1724; Samuel, born April 8, 1726; David, born Ma}' 23, 
1728 ; John, born July 1, 1730 ; David, born November 8, 1734. Sarah, 
the wife, died July 10, 1748. 

Edxoard Clark, born March 29, 1694, was a son of Hanniel, and mar- 
ried Sarah Stevens about 1715. They had seven children. 

Of Benjamin, Nehemiah, and Christopher Carleton, we find no record. 

o See Coffin, p. 294. 



276 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

. Ephraim Davis, born March 20, 1G97, was a son of Epliraim, and a 
descendant of Thomas, of Marlborough, England. There is no record of the 
family of Ephraim ; but he had three sons, Samuel, Benjamin, and Eobert, 
and two daughters whose names are believed to have been Deborah and 
Judith. Samuel and Benjamin were soldiers in the French war. One of 
them Avas drowned, and the other died soon after his return. The elder 
daughter married Colonel Moses Baker, of Campton, X. H., and the 
younger a Mr. Mon-ison, who lived at or near Sanbornton Bridge, N. H. 

Joseph, and Samuel Davis, were probably brothers, and sons of Samuel, 
of Haverhill. They did not settle at Concord. 

Captain Ebenezcr Eastman, of whom we have already given an account, 
was a son of Phillip, and gi'andson of Eoger, who settled in Salisbury, 1640. 
(We think Bouton, who doubtless followed Mirick, is mistaken in giving 
the date of Eastman's birth as 1G89. Our town records say 1681 ; and as 
he had a sister (Abigail) born May 28, 1.689, we incline to the opinion 
that Ebenezer was not bom in that year.) Six of his sons also settled in 
Concord. His children were — Ebenezer, born September 5, 1711 ; Phillip, 
born November 13, 1713, married Abiah Bradley; Joseph, born June 10, 
1715, married Abigail Mellen ; Nathaniel, bom March 16, 1717 ; Jeremiah, 
bom August 25, 1719, married Dorothy Carter ; Obadiah, born December 
11, 1721; Euth, bora January 17, 1729, married Dr. Ezra Carter, (2d), 
married Fowler of Boscowen, N, H. ; Moses, bom February 28, 1732^ 
married Elizabeth Kimball. 

Stephen Emerson, son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Duston) was born in 
Haverhill February 23, 1700-1. 

Nehemiah Heath, born May 11, 1680, was a son of John Heath of 
Haverhill. 

Moses, and Richard Hazzen, Jr., were sons of Lieutenant Eichard, of 
Haverhill. They did not settle in Concord. Eichard, Ji*., married Sarah 
Clement of this town, October 22, 1719, by whom he had eight children. 

Timothy Johnson, was probably from Haverhill, and a son of John 
Johnson and Elizabeth Maverick • (though Farmer reckons him as from 
Andover, and son of Timothy of that town). He was born June 31, 1672, 
and was the last of the seven children of his mother. His father married 
for a second wife widow Sarah Gills, 1674, who died July 1676, (a few 
days after giving birth to Mary and Eebecca, twins) ; and third, widow 
Katharine Mavericke, 1680, by whom he had John ^laverick, died 1689. 

John Merrill, (Deacon) was from the AVest Parish, and a descendant of 
Nathaniel. He married Lydia Haynes. His children (the three oldest 
born in Haverhill) were — -Moses, married Dorcas Abbot, settled in 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILI,. 277 

Pembroke ; Thomas, married Ptelbe Abbot, settled in Conway, married (2d,) 
■widow Johnson, married (3d,) widow Ambrose, married (4th,) widow 
Cummings ; John, married Rebecca Abbot, settled in Pembroke, in conti- 
nental service 1776; Hannah, died young; Jonathan, born February 10, 
1733, married Mary Farnum, settled in Hill; Hannah, born February 10, 
1735, married R. Eastman, married (2d,) I. Odell Conway; Nathaniel, 
born November 4, 1738, married Ann Walker, settled in Brownfield, Me. ; 
Sarah, born April 24, 1741, married Daniel Chandler; Ann, born December 
20, 1743, married Benjamin Farnum of Concord, N. H. ; Abigail, born 
December 9, 1746, married Tappan Evans of AVarren, N. H. ; Lydia, 
married Amos Foster of Pembroke, N. H. 

Nathaniel Page, born February 15, 1700-1, was a son of John, Jr., and 
grand-son of Cornelius, the father of Thomas and Joseph. 

Tliomas and Joseph Page, were sons of Cornelius, of Haverhill. Thomas 
was born February 24, 1693-4; and Joseph, September 12, 1689. 

Nathaniel and Robert Peaslee, were sons of Joseph, son of Joseph, of 
Haverhill. They did not settle in Concord. Nathaniel was born June 
25, 1682, and was, for many years, one of the leading men of the town. 
He was Eepresentative in 1737, 39 to 42, 1746 to 49, and 1752, 53. In 
1739, he was one of the committee of the General Court on the boundary 
line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire. For many years, he 
served the town as moderator, and as one of the selectmen. Robert was 
born February 3d, 1677. 

Johji and James PecTcer, were sons of James and Ann (Davis). John 
was born December 15, 1687 ; and James, November 15, 1684. Of Jere- 
miah, we can find no record. 

John Sa)iders, horn June 6, 1672, was a son of James and Sarah (Page). 
He died September 8, 1737. John, Jr., born August 25, 1696, was a son 
of the above. He married Lydia Duston, and had fourteen children, 
seven of whom died young. 

Jonathan ganders, born February 23, 1711-12, was a son of Avery and 
Abigail (Green) Senders. 

Nathaniel Sanders, son of James and Hannah (Tewksbury) , married 
1st, Mary Bixby, 2d, Anna Kelley, by each of whom he had one child. 

Nicholas, John, and William White, were brothers, and sons of John, 
and Lydia (Gilman)'. Nicholas was born December 4, 1698, married 
Hannah Ayer, of Haverhill, 1722, and died in 1782. They had five 
children. William was born January 18, 1693-4, and died in 1733. 
John was born September 8, 1707, and died May 10, 1745. 



278 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

William Whittier, son of John, and Mary (Hoit), was bom October 
28, 1688, and married Kachell Mitchell. They had three children. 

Jacob Shute was the son of a French Protestant, or Huguenot, who fled 
from Paris, on the revocation of the edict of Nantes, and took refuge in 
Ireland. Jacob, when about seventeen years of age, disliking the trade to 
which he was apprenticed, ran away, in company with one Dawen, and took 
secret passage in the hold of a ship for this country. They remained con- 
cealed until driven out by hunger. On arriving at Newburyport, and 
having nothing to pay their passage, they were sold — (their service) — 
for a time, to pay it. They were both bought by Captain Ebenezer 
Eastman, of Haverhill, and served him till twenty-one years of age. Shute 
settled at Penacook. He married Sarah George, of Haverhill, and had a 
daughter, Sarah, born here, and John and Elizabeth, born at Penacook. 
His wife died January, 1745. He married a second wife, (a widow Evans) 
by whom he had two daughters, both of whom died young. Mr. Shute 
died February 16, 1794, aged ninety-four. 

The first party of the proprietors of the new township, left Haverhill 
early in the morning of May 12th, and arrived at Penacook about five, 
P. M., May 13th, and the next day commenced the survey of the town- 
ship. The following September, a committee of the settlers was chosen 
"to go out and clear a sufficient cart way to Penny Cook, the nighest and 
best way they can from Haverhill." According to tradition, Ebenezer 
Eastmaurs team — six yoke of oxen, with a cart — was the first that 
crossed the wilderness from Haverhill to Penacook. It was driven 
by Jacob Shute, who, in order to get safely down Sugar Ball bank,' felled 
a pine tree and chained it, top foremost, to his cart to stay the motion of 
it down the precipice. 

Samuel Ayer is supposed to have been the first person who ploughed 
land at Penacook. The first family that settled in the plantation, was 
that of Ebenezer Eastman. The mill-crank for the first grist-mill was car- 
ried upon a horse from this town.'-' 

At a meeting held on the day of the annual March meeting this year, 
(1726) — but after the latter had closed — Captain Joshua Baylcy was 
chosen a committee in behalf of the town, to join with any persons chosen 
by neighboring towns, "to use all proper means to get the County of 
Essex divided." The reason given for this action, was," — that the shire 

o For mnjiy of the above facts rclntins to the pioneer settlers of Concord, we are indebted to the excel- 
lent History of Concord, N, 11., hy Eev. Mr. Bouton. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 279 

town was so far distant. "We do not learn that anything further was done 
at this time in regard to the division, cither by this or the neighboring 
towns. ^'^ 

One of those small matters frequently met with in the records, and 
which throw a gleam of light upon the manners and customs of " Auld 
Lang Syne," is found in the entry that one Mary Pearsons was warned 
out of town by the constable, upon the order of the selectmen, •' she hav- 
ing nothing to live upon." In those days, towns were very careful that 
no persons obtained a settlement among them who would ever be likely to 
become a public charge, and all such persons were promptly notified by 
the authorities that the town did not consent to their remaining in it. 
From 172-i to 1770, thirty persons were thus ordered out of town. In 
later years, it became customary to serve such a notice upon nearly every 
person who came into the town to reside, and such a practice prevailed 
within the memory of many persons still living. 

At the March meeting for 1726, ten persons living in the east part of 
the town petitioned for permission to assemble for worship at the Amesbury 
meeting house, f The request was granted. Four years later, twelve 
persons^ in that vicinity petitioned the town to allow them to pay their 
"minister's rate" in Amesbury, instead of Haverhill, — which was also 
agreed to. 

The steady increase in the population of the town, brought with it a 
proportionate increase in the labors and cares of the minister, and also in 
his expenses ; and this year Eev. Mr. Brown applied to the town for an 
addition to his salary. In full confidence in each others liberality and 
sense of justice, they voted him four contributions a year in addition to his 
present pay ! As often happens to others, as well as ministers, no sooner 
is one desire satisfied than another takes it place, and we need not there- 
fore be surprised that this liberal increase of salary should suggest to Eev. 
Mr. Brown the propriety of having his house improved in a corresponding 
ratio. Accordingly we find him asking the town to " double floor" one of 
the rooms, as it was " very cold in the winter," and to " ceil overhead" 
another, and, with many expressions of confidence and esteem, he leaves 

''' In 1G93, several towns in Essex County petitioned the General Court for a division of the County. 
The House passed an Act for that purpose, but it failed to meet the approval of the Governor and Council. 
■ In 1730 a similar proposition was again made, hut without success ; and several times since then the subject 
has been agitated in the Merrimack towns. 

t Aimer Chase, Samuel Sargent, John Sanders, Jr., John Snow, John Sanders, James Sanders, Robert 
Hunkins, William Davis, John Lovell, Green Whittier.. 

X John Sanders, James Sanders, Robert Hunkins, John Sanders, Jr., Ahner Chase, Green Whittier, 
James Bradbury, John Sweet, Joseph Kelley, Anthony Colby, William Bley, Robert Hastings. 



280 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

entirely to them the consideration of such other improvements as might 
seem to them necessary. That his confidence was not misplaced, is shown 
in the fact that the town not only fixed the two rooms requested, but 
" re-pay ered the Great Koom ! " 

At a meeting held in May (1726) the town voted to raise one-fifth of 
their " Bank Money" and pay it into the Province treasury immediately.*' 

The year 1827 occupies a somewhat prominent place in the history of 
this town and vicinity, on account of " a mighty tempest of wind and rain, " 
and " a most terrible, sudden, and amazing earthquake" which occurred in 
the fall of that year. 

The first occurred on Saturday and Sunday, September 16 and 17, and 
destroyed a large amount of property. As a specimen of the damage done, 
may be cited the fact that " near two hundred load of hay" was swept 
away from the marshes of Newbury.f 

The earthquake, or rather earthquakes, commenced on Sunday evening, 
the 29th of October. Eev. Mr. Plant, of Xewburyport, thus describes it : 

•' October 29th 1727. Being the Lord's day at forty minutes past ten 
the same evening, there was a most terrible, sudden and amazing earth- 
quake, which did damage to the greatest part of the neighborhood, shook 
and threw down tops of chimneys and in many places the earth opened a 
foot or more. It continued very terrible by frequently bursting and 
shocking our houses and lasted all that week (the first being the loudest 
shock, and eight more that immediately followed, louder than the rest that 
followed) sometimes breaking with six times or oftener in a day and as 
often in the night until Thursday in the said week and then somewhat 
abated. Upon Friday in the evening and about night, and about break of 
day and on Saturday there were three very loud claps. AVe also had it on 
Saturday, the Sabbath, and on Monday morning about ten, tho' much 
abated in the noise and terror. Upon the Tuesday following, November 
seventh, about eleven o'clock a very loud clap upon ever}- day or night more 

° In 1690, the General Court of Massachusetts issued bills of credit, which were the first " paper money" 
made in tho country. A similar emission was made in 1702. In 1721 it issued £50,000, which was divided 
among the several towns according to population, Ac, and was to be returned whenever the General Court 
ehoulJ so oi'Jer. The proportion received by this town, was loaned to various private individuals, they 
giving their notes for the same, and paying five par cent, annual interest for the use of it. It was this 
"Bank money" that was thus voted to be called in and paid back to the Province Treasury. 

In 1728, another emission of £.50,000 was made ; and a similar issue has been ordered several times 
since. The object of these issues, or "loans," was to extricate the Province from debt, by creating a 
temporary substitute for hard money, and thus .allow it time to recover from its pecuniary embarrassment. 

Paper money was first made by Massachusetts in IGOO; by Connecticut, 1709; Pennsylvania, 1723; 
Maryland, 1740; l!hode Island, 1744; and in 17J9 almost every province issued paper currency. It was 
first issued by Congress in 177u. 

t Coffin. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 281 

01* less tliree, four, sis times each day or night and upon the twelfth being 
the Lord's day twice from betwixt three to half past four, in all which 
space of time some claps were loud, others seemingly at a distance and 
much abated. Upon Monday two hours before day a loud burst and at half 
past two in the afternoon another burst was heard somewhat 'loud. On the 
nineteenth about ten at night a very loud shock and another about break 
of day, somewhat here abated, but at Haverhill a very loud burst, making 
their houses rock, as that over night did with us. It was the Lord's day in 
the evening. It hath been heard twice since much abated. The very first 
shock opened a new spring by my father Samuel Bartlet's house in the 
meadow and threw up in the lower grounds in Newbury several loads of 
white sand. After that some loud claps, shocking our houses. On 
December seventeenth, about half an hour after ten being Lord's day at 
evening a very loud burst, shocking our houses. Another about four the 
next morning abated." 

Stephen Jaques, of Newbury, thus describes its effects in his vicinity : — 

" On the twenty ninth day of October between ten and eleven it being 
sabath day night there was a terabel earthquake. The like was never 
known in this land. It came with a dreadful roreing, as if it was thun- 
der, and then a pounce like grate guns two or three times close one after 
another. It lasted about two minits. It shook down bricks from ye tops 
of abundance of chimnies, some allmost all the heads. All that was about 
ye houses trembled, beds shook, some cellar walls fell partly down. Stone 
wals fell in a hundred plasis. =■' The first night it broke 

out in more than ten places in ye town in ye clay low land, blowing up ye 
sand, sura more, sum less. In one place near Spring island it blew out 
as it was judged twenty loads, and when it was cast on coals in ye night, 
it burnt like brimstone." 

Henry Sewall, of Newbuiy, in a letter to Judge Sewall, of Boston, 
says : — 

" We were sitting by the fire and about half after ten at nightf our 
house shook and trembled as if it would fall to peaces. Being affrighted 
we ran out of doors, when we found the ground did tremble and we were 
in great fear of being, swallowed up alive, but God preserved us and did 
not suffer it to break out, till it got forty or fifty rods from the house, 
where it broke the ground in the common near a place called Spring 

" We copy these interesting accounts from Coflin's History of Newbury. 

t We must not infer from this that a majority of the people were sitting by the fire at that hour of 
Sunday night. Indee<i, Stephen Jaques declares that "most people gat up in a moment." This seems 
conclusive. 

86 



282 HISTORY OF nAVERHILL. 

island, and there is from sixteen to twenty loads of fine sand thrown out 
where the ground broke, and several days after the water hoiled out like 
a spring, but is now dry and the ground closed up again.""' 

Similar shocks, though less severe, were frequently felt during the 
gi'catcr part of the following year. Between January 1st and May 22d, 
(1728) over thirty arc recorded. On the latter date, the church in this 
town observed the day as a day of thanksgiving, " for the great mercies 
of the winter past under the Earthquakes." 

As we may readily suppose, the distance at which many families lived 
from the central meeting-house, joined with the primitive roughness of 
the roads, and the meagre facilities for riding to church, made it well nigh 
impossible for many to attend, especially in the winter ; and, in the fall 
of 1727, the inhabitants of the northern and western parts of the town, 
at their request, received permission to hold meetings at each of those 
places during the following winter. The inhabitants of the north part of 
the town had, a few months previously, petitioned the town to build a 
meeting-house in that part of the town, but without success. Their next 
move was for permission to have meetings, as above mentioned, and from 
their petition to the town, the following spring, for money to pay their 
minister, we learn that such meetings were held. 

At the same time, twenty-four persons again petitioned the town to 
build a meeting-house in that part of the town. Both of these requests 
were refused. But the inhabitants of that section were now fully deter- 
mined that their requests should no longer be so lightly treated, and at a 
meeting held in June of the same year, (June 18, 1728,) they succeeded 
in securing a vote that the northerly part of the town should be set off 
into a distinct precinct, or parish. The conditions annexed, were, that 
the inhabitants should determine within one month where their meeting- 
house should be erected, and settle an oi'thodox minister as soon as possible. 

° In a conversation with Professor Agassiz we remarked, " If earthquakes and sn'otcrranean fires have 
elevated and depressed portions of this continent, why may they not again." He replied, "They may; 
probably they will." 

Mr. Coffin in his valuable History of Newbury, between 1727 and 1770, has recorded nearly two hundred 
earthquake shocks on the Merrimac river ! That disturbed region has long been quiet, and probably will 
remain so ; but who may know what ch.inges the past centuries have experienced ! 

All the great rivers on the Atlantic coast of the United States have a southerly or south-easterly direc. 
tion. The Merrimac has such a direction for one hundred and forty miles, and is the only one which turns 
in its course and runs north-east, and part of the way north-west. If the history of the buried ages could 
be restored, it might be found that this river once discharged itself into Lynu harbor. From the Merrimac 
at Lowell to the head waters of the Saugus is only sixteen miles; while after its turning it finds its de- 
vious way more than forty miles to the sea at Newburyport ! Probably no portion of our land has under- 
gone greater changes than the seacoast of Essex county, and none presents a more interesting licld of 
research. If we suppose one part to have been elevated, or another depressed, the peculiarity of this 
river may be accounted for. The subject is worthy the attention of geologists. — Lewis. 



HISTOKY OF HAVERHILL. 283 

It was formally erected into a Parish by the General Court, in the fol- 
lowing August. The following were the bounds : — 

"Beginning at the "Westerly end of Brandy Brow, on Almshury line, 
from thence to the Northei-ly end of the hither North Meadow as it is 
commonly called, thence to the fishing river and so down the fishing River 
till it comes to the Bridge by Matthew Harriman's, then running Westerly 
to the bridge over the brook by Nathl Marble's, and then a straight line 
Northwest one quarter of a point North, to the bounds of Haverhill, tak- 
ing all the land within the town of Haverhill north of said line." 

Their meeting-house was partly finished this year. The parish then 
included a part of Hampstead, Plaistow, and Atkinson. 

Complaint being made that there were "too many taverns" in town it 
was decided (June 18, 1728,) that two taverns were " sufficient for the 
town's benefit ; and Lieutenant Ebenezer Eastman and John Swett were 
appointed to keep them. Eastman kept in the village, and Swett at 
Holt's Eocks. 

That this was not the first time that good citizens thought and said 
there were too many taverns in town, may be seen from the following let- 
ter, which well deserves a place in a history of the town. It is copied 
from the Court Files for 1696 : — 

" Haverhill, December 26, 1696. 
Much Hond. Gentlemen: 

I allways thought it great prudence and Christianity in our foi-mer 
leaders and rulers, by their laws to state the numbers for publique houses 
in towns, and for regulation of such houses, as were of necessity, thereby 
to prevent all sorts, almost, of wickedness, which daily grow in upon us 
like a flood. But alas, I see not but that now, the care is over, and such 
(as to some places I may term them,) pest houses and places of enticement, 
(tho not so intended by the justices) to sin are multiplied. It is multiplied 
Joo openly, that the cause of it may be, the price of retailers fees &c. I 
pray what need of six retailers in Salisbury, and of more than one in 
■ Haverhill, and some other towns, where the people when taxes and rates 
for the country and ministers are collecting, with open mouth complain of 
povertie and being hardly dealt with, and yet I am fully informed, can 
spend much time, and spend their estate at such blind holes, as are clan- 
destinely and unjustly petitioned for, and more threaten to get licences, 
chiefly by repairing to a remote court, where they are not known or 
suspected, but pass for current, and thereby the towns are abused, and the 
youth get evil habits, and men sent out on country service, at such places 



284 HISTOKY OF HAVERHILL. 

waste much of their time, yet expect pay for it, in most pernicious loytering 
and what, and sometimes by foolish if not pot-valliant firing and shooting 
oflF guns, not for the destruction of enemies, but to the wonderful distur- 
bance and affrightment of the inhabitants, which is not the service a scout 
is allowed and maintained for. Please to see, if possible, what good is done 
by giving license to Robert Hastings in such a by-place, about three miles 
from the publique house in town. The man himself I am sure has no 
cause, nor do I believe the town or travellers if they are sober men, will 
ever give the court thanks for the first grant to him, or the farther renewal 
thereof. But now the brovado is made, what is done is not enough, we 
must have a third tippling house at Peter Patey's about mid-way between 
the other two, which they boast as cocksure of, and have it is thought laid 
in, for this very end, an unaccountable store of cyder, rum, molasses and 
what not. It is well if this stock be not now spent on, in procure subscrip- 
tions for to obtain the villian's licence, which I fear knowing the man, we 
may be bold to say, wickedness will be practised and without control, and 
we must be quiet, or hated because of licences for something which they 
will enlarge to any and everything which is not, &c. " ■■■' '-= '■■' '•■' 

It would be good, if the law or rule of court made, were duly practised 
as to granting and renewing of licences, that none be meddled with but at 
the court to which the grand jurors do repair, belonging to the town where 
the man lives who petitions for license, so that the court may see what 
comi:)laints are entered by bill, or better inquiries may be made. But now 
many that would speak if "they had knowledge of the motion before the 
grant was made, cannot. 1 have done my part in court, as to what I heaxd 
of, to prevent such confiding licences to persons unknown. We need but 
one place to be granted for strangers, or else it were more than enough. 
As for tte two last mentioned, none that knew the men or the places, or 
the business, of necessity there let be done, can judge them to conduce to 
good or accommodation of civilized men. " ^' ^ "^^ ^^ ^' ^-^ " 

I am now God's prisoner, and can't come abroad. I have waited long 
to speak of those and other but as yet can't meet with an opportunity. 
You have nothing here of personal animosity of mine against any man, but 
zeal and faithfulness to my country and town, and to the young and rising 
generation that they be not too much at libertie to live and do as they list. 
I pray accept of the good intentions of, gentlemen, your humble servant, 

N. Saltonstall. 
To the Justices in Quarter Session, sitting at Salem, December, 1696." 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 285 

About this time, commenced the disputes and difficulties between the 
inhabitants of Haverhill, and those of Londonderry, and other places, in 
regard to the rightful ownership of certain lands lying between them. 
This " Border "War" extended over a period of almost forty years; and, 
as a connected history of its rise and progress has never yet been pub- 
lished, it seems proper that we should devote a chapter to its special 
consideration, — which we now propose to do. 



286 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE BOUNDARY DIFFICULTIES OF 1720 TO 1759. 



The first cliartcr of the Massachusetts Colony granted all "that part of 
new England lying between three miles to the north of the Men-imack 
and three miles to the south of the Charles Paver, and of every part there- 
of, in the Massachusetts Bay ; and in length between the described breadth, 
from the Atlantic Ocean to the South Sea." 

A considerable portion of the land embraced in this patent had been 
previously granted by the same Council to Captain John Mason, and 
others ; and the gi'ounds upon which it was now re-sold do not appear. 
But, whatever may have been the reasons, the interference of the jjatent 
with those of a previous date, gave rise to perplexing embarrassments and 
long controversies. =■' 

Under this charter, the Massachusetts colonists claimed that their north- 
ern boundary was three miles to the north of the northcrmost part of the 
Merrimack, and, from that point to extend east and west from the Atlan- 
tic to the South Sea. In order to ascertain this northermost point, a 
commission was appointed in 1639 to explore the river, which resulted in 
fixing upon a rock near the outlet of Winnipisiogee Lake,f as the most 
northern part of the river, and a certain tree three miles to the northward 
of the rock, as the point from which their line was to run due east and 
west. This construction, as may readily be seen by reference to a map of 
New England, would give to Massachusetts the larger part of what is 
now New Hampshire and Vermont, and a large slice of Maine. 

Among the miscellaneous papers in the State Archives, is an old map, 
or plan, without date, but evidently drawn for the purpose of showing 
this claim of Massachusetts. The following is an engraving of this plan, 



* As late as 17.50, (almost twenty years after the line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire had 
heen settled) the Haverhill Proprietors chose a committee "to join with New Salem Committee to settle 
the title of that township with ye proprietors of John Tufton Mason's Right, & to go to Portsmouth and 
settle yc nllalr." 

t Which they marked, and which has ever since been known, as EndicoU's Sock. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL 



287 



upon a reduced scale. The portion of land marked " Country Land," in- 
cludes all that part of the present town of Methuen, which was not 
originally a part of Haverhill. 




P E N YilOCCi; 



With this impression as to their colonial bounds, Massachusetts granted 
. the townships along the northern border of the Merrimac, and among the 
rest, Haverhill. 

But the Xew Hampshire grantees placed a different construction upon 
the language of the charter, and claimed that the northern line could not 
in any place extend more than three miles to the north of the middle of the 
channel of the river. The territory, therefore, lying between these 
extremes, became " disputed territory." Subsequently, (1677) at a hear- 
ing before the King and Council, the agents for Massachusetts, by advice, 
so far modified their claim as to disclaim all right of jurisdiction beyond 



288 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

the three miles north of the river according to its course f' and it was 
determined that they had a right as far as the river extended. Massa- 
chusetts, however, continued to i-etain jurisdiction over those i)arts of those 
towns already granted, which were more than three miles north of the 
Merrimac, — of which New Hampshire continued to complain. 

If the first charter of Massachusetts had continued, it is not probable 
that any different construction would ever have been started, and the 
dispute between the two colonies would have remained confined to the 
towns referred to. But the new charter of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, 
(1G92,) defined the northern bound as " extending from the great river 
commonly called Monomack alias Merrimack on the north part and from 
three miles northward of the said river to the atlantic or western sea," &c. 
About the year 1720, New Hampshire began to claim that the line should 
commence at the point three miles north of the mouth of the Merrimac, and 
from thence run due west to the south sea. "With the setting up of this 
new claim commenced a series of disputes, ' contentions, and suits, that 
lasted for nearly a third of a century, and at times nearly involved the 
inhabitants of the disputed territory in civil war. 

The theatre of the most violent and determined contests during these 
troubles, was that part of Haverhill (as originally laid out) known as the 
" Poke," or " corner," or " northerly angle " of the town. 

As early as 1722, we find the inhabitants of Londonderry making 
application to New Hampshire for more room, and they seem to have had 
a special desire for land in the vicinity of the " Peke of Haverhill. "f 
The same year, a committee chosen by the General Court of Massachu- 
setts to look after encroachments upon the lands to the north of Merrimack 
Eiver, belonging to the towns of Salisbury, Almsbury, and Haverhill, re- 
ported that "some Irish People" claimed the land "home to Merrimack 
Eiver from Amoskeag falls," &c.J 

In November, 1726, a petition was presented to the General Court from 
Orlando Bayley, Jacob Eowell, and seventy others of Haverhill and Ames- 
bury, in which they affirm that they have been prosecuted at law for land 
they had held for sixty years, on pretence that it was in the town of 
Kingston and Province of New Hampshire. Writs for trespass had been 



That 19, their line should ran parallel with the river from its mouth to the "crotch" (Endicott's 
Rock) and thence due north three miles, (to Endicott's Tree) and thence due west to the "South Sea." 

t N. II. State Archives. 

1 As early as Deccmher, 1720, the Commoners of navtrhill received information that " the Irish were 
settling on some of the fonrth division lots."— Vide Prop. £ec. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 289 

served on these petitioners, on the ground that their land was " more than 
three miles from Merrimack Eiver," and they were tried in jN^ew Hamp- 
shire. 

The General Court took measures to inform their agent at London in 
regard to the complaint, and voted that the Governoi* should remonstrate 
to the General Court of Xew Hampshire against such proceedings, and 
solicit that all such might he stayed until- the (question of boundary was 
fully settled. 

That this did not have the desired effect, is fully shown from the fol- 
lowing extract from the Council Eecords of Massachusetts, for February, 
1728: — 

" A petition of Eichard Hazen Junior, James Pecker, Ebenr Eastman, 
& Nathl Peasleay, all of Haverhill, in the County of Essex, in behalf of 
the Inhabitants of the said Town, setting forth that notwithstanding the 
Ancient Grant of the sd Town the many confirmasions and settlements of 
their Bounds by the Government, divers of the Inhabitants of London 
Derry within the Province of New Hampshire have encroached upon the 
Petitioners Lands mowed their meadows, cut down and destroyed their 
Timber, and erected several Houses on their Lands and have prosecuted the 
Inhabitants of Haverhill in the said Province of Xew Hampshire for im- 
proving their own lands, and therefore Praying relief from this Board ; 
Eead, and 

Whereas it appears to this Board that the contentions between the Inhab- 
itants of this Province and the Province of New Hampshire, bordering on 
the dividing Line, are arisen to that height that there is great danger that 
in their encroachments they will use violence on each other unless they are 
speedily discountenanced by the respective Governments: for preventing 
whereof 

" Voted, that the Inhabitants of this Province bordering on the dividing 
Line and claiming Lands there be directed not to make any new Settlement 
on the said Lands or any improvements whatsoever thereon and to desist 
from all prosecutions in the liaw till th^ further order of this Government 
or the settlement of the said Line, Provided the Government of New 
Hampshire do give the like or some other effectual directions to the Inhab- 
itants of that Province for the end aforesaid ; And that His Excellency be 
desired to write to the Lieut Governor of the Province of New Hampshire 
on this affair." ' 

° From the same records, of the same year, we learn that Nathaniel Peasley was twice allowed money 
from the Province Treasury to defend himself against suits in New Hampshire, (ten pounds and thirty 
pounds) ; and that John Wainwri<,'ht and Eichard Saltonstall were also granted twenty pounds to pro- 
secute trespassers on Province Lands in Methuen. 

37 



290 



HISTORY OF IIATERHILTj. 



Accompanying Hazzcn's petition was a plan, showing the portion of 
Haverhill claimed by Londonderry, The following is a reduced copy of 
the plan : '^ 




From this plan, it will he seen, that the land in dispute between the 
people of Haverhill and Londonderry, was principally confined to that part 
of Haverhill known as the " fifth division " land. The southern part of 
it, however, included a part of the "fourth division" land. The fifth 
division lots were laid out by the Haverhill Proprietors in January, 1721, 
and it was the entrance of the grantees upon, and their improvement of 
these lands, that led to the commencement of active contentions at this 
particular period. 

The bounds of Londonderry, as given in Wheelwright's deed, of 1719, 
was as follows : — Down the Merrimack until it meets the line of Dunstable ; 
thence eastward on Dunstable line, until it meets the line of Dracut; 
thence eastward on the line of Dracut " until it meets the line of Haverhil ; 
and extending northward upon Haverhill line until it meet with the line of 
Cheshire." From this we see, that, according to their own deed, the 
claim of Londonderry was unwarrantable. The town of Haverhill had been 
laid out fifty-two years, when the deed of Londonderry was given, and by 
til at deed they were bounded vpon Haverhill line. 



History of hatekuill. 291 

At a meeting of the Haverhill proprietors, held in January, 1729, a 
Committee was chosen to prosecute, " to final issue," all trespassers on the 
CTommon lands ; and another to perambulate the west line of the town." 

At a meeting of the Proprietors, held April 7, 1729, " Wm Mudgete did 
remonstrate to the proprietors that he has lately been at great Cost & 
Charges in defending his Title to certain Lands in the fifth division which 
were & still are Claimed by the Irish & that the Matter is now in the Law 
undecided." He therefore prayed that the proprietors would "reimburse 
him what he has expended in Eemoving the said Irish out of his house." 
In answer to his petition, a committee was chosen to examine his accounts, 
and report. A.t a subsequent m.eeting, ]Mudgett was allowed forty-four 
pounds seventeen shillings and a sixpence, from the treasury of the 
proprietors. 

On the other side, we find, under date of August 27th of the same year, 
a petition from the inhabitants of Londonderry, to the Governor and Council 
of New Hampshire, in which they say that " Inasmuch as the Inhabitants 
of the Towne of Haverhill do often disturb sundry of your petitioners in 
their quiet possession of their lands granted to them by their charter, under 
their pretentions of a title thereto," they pray for assistance, on account of 
the " Law suits which are daily multiplied by them." 

From the Eecords of the G-eneral Court of Massachusetts, for 1731, we 
learn that, June 29, the House received 

" A Petition of Xathau Webster and Pdchard Hazzen Junr, Agents for 
the Proprietors of the Town of Haverhill, Setting forth their Ancient & 
Legal right to the Lands they possess in said Town, as also the late En- 
croachments, of the Irish people settled in the Province of Xew Hampshire, 
who have Cutt down and Carried away great Quantities of their Hay and 
Timber, & other ways disturbed them in the improvements of their Lands, 
Praying Eelief from this Court." 

Paul Dudley, from the committee chosen to look into the matter, re- 
ported that, inasmuch as there was a hopeful prospect of a speedy settlement 
of the Line, the Covernor should be directed to issue a Proclamation, 
directing the inhabitants of both provinces to forbear molesting each other 
for the present year. 

In this recommendation the House concurred, but the Council refused 
to do so, and 

" Voted, that inasmuch as there are Courts of Justice established by 
Law before whom affairs of that nature are properly cognizable, the Peti- 
tion be dismissed." 

* The fifth division lota were all bounded on the west by the west line of the toT\'n. 



X 



J92 



HISTORY OP nAVEKHILL 



Shortly after, commissioners of the two provinces met at Newbury, and 
attempted to settle the troublesome dispute, but without success. Upon 
this, the New Hampshire commissioners appointed John Eindge, a mer- 
chant of Portsmouth, as agent, to present a petition to the KingJ- They 
determined to treat no more with Massachusetts. 

The following plan, or map, is a reduced copy of the one accompanying 
the petition of Eindge to the King and Council. 




After-raany delays, a royal order was issued, referring the matter to a 
board of commissioners. These commissioners " were all such as the New 
Hampshire agent proposed, five councellors from each of the governments 
of New York, Ehode-Island, & Nova Scotia. "With the two former gov- 
ernments, Massachusetts was then in c6ntroversy about lines. The latter, 
it was said, was disaffected to charter governments. Connecticut, proposed 
by Massachusetts, was rejected because of a bias from their trade, religion, 
&c., which New Hampshire was afraid of."f 

The time and place for the meeting of the commission, was August 
10th, at Hampton.| The Assembly of New Hampshire met on the 4th of 

° October 31, 1731, the House of Representatives of New Hampshire confirmed the appointment of 
Rindjje. 

t Hutchinson. 

J At a meeting held May 17, this town chose a Committee, consisting of Colonel Richard Saltonstall, 
Mr. Richard llazzen, and Deacon James Ayer, " to wait upon the Commissioners, and represent the affairs 
and houndaries of the town to them, provided the proprietors of the undivided lands pay the expenses of 
the said Committee." 



HISTORY OF HAVERniLL. 293 

August, and tlie Secretary, by tlie Governor's order, prorogued it to the 
10th, then to meet at Hampton Falls. The Assembly of Massachusetts 
met at Boston, on the same day, and also adjourned to the 10th, then to 
meet at Salisbury ; — thus the two Assemblies met within five miles of 
each other. On the 10th, a large cavalcade was formed at Boston, and the 
Governor rode in state, escorted by a troop of horse. He was met at Kew- 
bury Ferry by another troop, and at the supposed divisional line by three 
more, who conducted him in all the pomp of power to the George tavern, 
at Hampton Falls, where he held a council, and made a speech to the 
Assembly of New Hampshire." 

After several weeks of angry discussion, the boundary of the eastern 
line of New Hampshire (which had also been in dispute) was agreed upon, 
but the southern was not, and by agreement was submitted to the King. 

The main point on which this controversy turned, was entirely evaded 
by the commissioners. That point was " whether the charter of William 
and Mary granted to Massachusetts all the lands which were granted by 
Charles the First? " If this question was decided in the affirmative, then 
the claim of Massachusetts must be granted ; if not, then it must fall. 
Making, therefore, an evasive decision, the commission left the parties to 
pursue their contentions as best they could, by means of Agents, before 
His Majesty's Council in England. The New Hampshire interest was 
represented by John Tomlinson, who employed a Mr. Parris as solicitor — 
a man of great shrewdness, penetration, and artful address. Massachu- 
setts employed, as her agent, Mr. Edmund Quincy, who died in 1738, and 
afterward the affair was in the hands of Wilts and Partridge — neither of 
whom understood, a tithe so much of the controversy as Tomlinson, nor 
had the address of Parris. The latter drew up " a petition of appeal " to 
the King, in which all the circumstances attending the transaction from the 
beginning were recited and colored in such a manner as to asperse the gov- 
ernor and assembly of the " vast, opulent, overgrown province of Massa- 
chusetts;" while "the poor, little, loyal, distressed province of New 

* The following "pasquinade " having heen adopted as a part of the history of these proceedings by so 
many of our predecessors, we dare not risk omitting it in this place : — 
Dear paddy, you never did behold such a sight, 
As yesterday morning was seen before night. 
You in all your born days saw, nor I did'nt neither. 
So many fine horses and nicu ride together. 
At the head, the lower house trotted two in a row. 
Then all the higher house pranced after the low. 
Then the Governor's coach galloped on like the wind, 
And the last that came foremost were troopers behind ; 
Bnt I fear it means no good to your neck, nor mine, 
For they say 'tis to lii a right place for the line. 



294: HISTORY OF HAVERniLL. 

Hampshire" was represented as ready to be devoured, and the King's own 
property and possessions swallowed up by the boundless rapacity of the 
charter government. 

The following letter, from Eichard Hazzen of this town, to Mr. Gushing, 
— written a few months after the matter had been thus referred to the 
King, — throws considerable additional light upon this controversy : — 

" Sr. 
Inclosed are the Plans of Haverhill &, Methuen with the Severall 
Claims of Kingston Chester & Londonderry'"' upon them which you will I 
believe Easily find Out by the Delineations, as also the first plan that ever 
was taken of the Town of Haverhill as I Can find which I thought might 
be of service for its Antiquity. f You will see by the Southerly Course of 
Londonderry what parts of Dracutt & Dunstable they Claim but for want 
of more knowledge in the Courses of them Two Towns I forbore to take a plan 
thinking it more proper for Mr Justice Blanchard, and as to Almsbury I 
am acquainted that Kingston Claims near one third part, but without 
measuring I could not take an Exact plan so desisted hoping what is done 
may Suffice for the present. I have also enclosed the copy of a petition 
which was sent in Haverhill's behalf by the late Honrble Colo Quincy 
which if you j^lcasc to peruse you will find it agi'ees with said Plan I have 
drawn & I hope will serve Haverhill. 

After you have read it I desire you would Send it me by the bearer, 
again. If my business would have allowed of it I should have taken a plan 
of Kingston, by which you would have perceived that they have no Eight 
by Grant to any part of Haverhill. Their Grant beginning at a Stake 
seven miles v/est from Hampton meeting house thence running west & by 
north Ten miles into ye Country & then beginning where they first began 
& Eun North four miles & South within three Miles of Merrimack & then 
from the Extreme points Last mentioned to ye End of ye Tenmile so that 
it Lyes in the same form of Haverhill. 

I should earnestly request that endeavours might be used that a Line 
from Endicott's Tree to three miles Xorth of Merrimack Eiver at ye mouth 
might be the dividing Line of the Provinces which Ave take to be the true 
intent of the Charter, but the Province having put in a different Claim we 

o In July, 1737, one Robert Auchmaty petitioned the Proprietors of Ilaverhill that "whereas a house 
lot had been laid out to him in Londonderry which is supposed to be within ye ancient town of Uaver- 
hill," to prevent any future trouble in rejftu'd to it, he requested the Proprietors to make over to him in 
writing all their right and title to the same. The request was not granted — perhaps because the peti- 
tioner asked the release as a ffi/t. 

t See au engraving of the last plan here referred to, on page 104. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 295 

forbear to mention it. however that you will use your utmost Endeavour 
that Haverhill's property may he Secured we Earnestly Eequest. If any 
thing further may be done to Serve the Province I shall readily lend a hand. 
In Haste I am Sr 

Your Most Humble Servt 

Eichd Hazzen 

Haverhill May 9th 1737."- 

The decision of the King in Council was not made until August 5, 1740, 
and the line was not actually run until the following year ; and during all 
this time,- the inhabitants of the disputed territory suffered the most serious 
inconveniences and annoyances. It would be both unjust, and ungenerous, 
did we deny that private rights were invaded, property destroyed or 
damaged, law suits needlessly multiplied, and other wrongs committed, by 
persons, and j)arties, on each of the contending sides. Passions were 
inflamed, cupidity and a love for contention excited, and, as always has 
been, (and, from the nature of man, under similar circumstances always 
must be expected.) every available means, short of actual resort to physical 
force, was adopted to harrass and drive off the settlers on the disputed lands. 
Parties from this town repeatedly attempted (and often with success) to 
drive off the Londondeny and other settlers upon these lands,| and visa 
versa. 

In the hope of putting a more speedy stop to these serious difficulties, 
the town, September 29, 1740, chose a committee to petition *' his majesty " 
directly, about their town boundary. 

Finally, (August 5, 1740,) a decree of the King in Council passed the 
seals, by which it was " adjudged, ordered and decreed, that the Northern 
boundary of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, is and be a similar curve 
line, pursuing the course of Merrimac river, at three miles distance on the 
north side thereof, beginning at the Atlantic Ocean and ending at a point 
due north of a place in the plan returned by the Commissioners," (to whom 
the subject had been previously referred,) "called Patucket falls and a 
straight line drawn from thence due West across said river till it meets 
with his Majesty's other Governments." This decree was forwarded to 
Mr. Belcher, then governor of both Provinces, with instructions to apply 
to the respective Assembles of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, to 
unite in marking the necessary provisions for running and marking the line 

* State Archives 32, 472. 

t In April, 1735, John Carlton, and his brother George, (sons of Thomas, of Bradford) petitioned to the 
proprietors of Haverhill to make thom some consideration for the services of themselves and teams "when 
ConstaUe pecker went to fetch oft' those that were Tresspcssers on that part of Haverhill Common beyond 
the Island Pond," as they liad done to others that went at the same t;me. 



296 HISTORY OP nAVEKHILt. 

conformable to said decree, and that if the Assembly of either Province 
refused, the Assembly of the other might proceed ex parte. The Assembly 
of the Province of Massachusetts declined complying -with this requisition. 
The Assembly of New Hampshire made the necessary appropriation for 
running and marking the line : and George Mitchel and Eichard Hazen 
were appointed by Gov. Belcher, on behalf of New Hampshire, to survey 
and mark the boundary line conformably to said decree. Pursuant to this 
authority, in the month of February, A. D. 1741, Mitchel run and marked 
a line from the seacoast above three miles north of the mouth- of the 
Merrimack Paver, to a point about three miles north of Patucket falls, as 
and for the line directed to be run by said decree, and said Hazen, in the 
month of March following, run and marked a line from the said point about 
three miles north of Patucket falls, across the Connecticut Eiver to the 
supposed boundary line of New York, on what he then supposed, was a due 
West line from the place of beginning. 

This line gave to Nciu Hampshii-e a territory of about fifty miles by 
fourteen more than sue had ever asked for ! 

Massachusetts, as may readily be supposed, did not soon forget her 
unjust treatment in the matter, and it was not until 1826, that she took 
part in a rc-survcy, or retracing of the line.'- 

But the decree of the King did not put a stop to the disputes between 
the inhabitants of Haverhill and those of Londonderry. It was made a 
condition of the submission to the decision of the King, that private pro- 
perty should not be affected, and this condition was incorporated into his 
decree ; but it did not settle the question of private ownership. 

At their meeting in September, 1741, the Haverhill proprietors chose a 
committee to prosecute all trespassers on their common and undivided lands, 
whether they were on the north or south of the New Hampshire line, or 
in that part of Methuen formerly Haverhill ; and they continued to sell 
and grant lands on tlie north side of the new line. 

On the other hand, the inhabitants of Londonderry petitioned their Gen- 
eral Court to newly run the lines of their town, as "your petitioners for 
several years past has been very greatly disturbed and troubled and in- 
croached upon in their Possessions and in defence of the same has expended 
from time to time in the Law near two thousand Pounds against the In- 
habitants of Massachusetts Bay." Among other causes of complaint 
against the latter, the petitioners say that " they carry off the small part 
of timber that is yet growing there." 

" From 1741, to 1826, no survey of the line was made by public authority. 



HISTORY OF HATERHILL. 297 

That we may not he charged with suppressing testimony upon the Lon- 
donderry side, we copy, in extenso, the Kev. Mr. Parker's version of the 
matter, as given in his History of that town ■■= : — 

" It appears that certain persons in Haverhill, and its vicinity, laid 
claim to these lands, by virtue of a deed of but about twenty years date, 
from an Indian sagamore named John,f whereas the Indian title which the 
proprietors of Londonderry claimed, was obtained more than sixty years 
before, and signed by all the principal chiefs who had any right whatever 
to the territory in question. J Weak and unjust as was the claim of these 
individuals, they endeavoured to press it, hoping that, as these settlers 
were foreigners, if they could not by persuasion, they would by menaces, be 
induced to abandon their settlement. Hence they came from time to time 
in armed bodies, threatening violence if the settlers upon these lands did 
not remove. But they knew not the men whom they thus assailed, were 
men of tried courage and noble daring. Satisfied of the justness of their 
title, and determined to maintain it at the peril of life, if called to the 
encounter, the inhabitants of Londonderry went forward with their settle- 
ment, without heeding the menaces they received. It is related, that on one 
occasion a large party from Haverhill, led by a man named Herriman, came 
fully armed for an encounter, unless these settlers would yield to their 
demands, either paying them for the township or at once quitting it.§ 

' ' It was on Friday, and the men with their families were assembling under 
a spreading oak, their house of worship not being as 3'^et erected, to observe, 
according to the good old Presbyterian custom, the service preparatory to 
communion, which was to be administered on the following Sabbath. The 
assailants, on making known their purpose, were requested to desist from 
all acts of violence, until their religious services were over, which they 
consented to do. Having listened attentively to the discourse addressed to 
his flock by the venerated pastor, and struck with the firm and undaunted 

«-■ Parker's History of Londonderry, page 58. 

t With this deed, and the claim under it, this toivn had nothing whatever to do, and but very few of 
its inhabitants. When we first began to "read up" upon tliis subject, we somewhere met with, and made 
notes of, a history of this deed, and the attempts made to establish claims under it ; but they have been 
either li>st or misplaced; and we can now only affirm that the claim was owned by parties outside of 
Haverhill, (we helieve in Ipswich, or Salem) and that when they passed through this town, on their way to 
this disputed territory, — which was, as they claimed, covered by their deed, — to compel the settlers there 
to either purchase of them, or move oif the lands, a number of Haverhill men joined the party. — Q. W. C. 

X We believe it is even yet doubtful whether the deed here referred to is a genuine deed, or a false one. 
But even admitting it to have been a genuine and valid deed, the bounds of Londonderry under it, was 
distinctly stated to be to, and upon, Haverhill the Line. 

§ This must have been the party who claimed under the Indian deed, already referred to. They 
claimed the whole township. Haverhill never claimed anything more than to its west line, as laid out 
in 1667. The latter claim, therefore, covered but a small portion of the township of Londonderry. 

38 



298 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

appearance of the men, and with the spirit and solemnity of their devotions, 
Herriman said to his followers : ' Let us return, it is in vain to attempt to 
disturb this people, for surely the Lord is with them.' 

" lu connection with these more formal assaults, they were frequently har- 
rassed by intruders who attempted to mow their meadows, on which 
they mainly depended for the support of their cattle during the earlier 
years of the settlement. ' 

" Such intruders were not unfrequently taken by them, and detained as 
prisoners, until satisfaction was rendered by them, or their friends. "VVe 
find in^ the town accounts during these years, frequent charges by in- 
dividuals ' for guarding prisoners.' Sometimes an inhabitant of the town, 
when employed in these meadows, would be seized and carried away by 
individuals from abroad, who laid in wait for the purpose. Thus a Mr. 
Christie, while mowing in a meadow, was seized and carried to Haverhill, 
without being allowed to apprize his family of his situation. The next 
day some of his apparel was found in the meadow where he had been at 
work, and he was at length discovered and rescued. 

" It also appears that civil processes were commenced and carried on 
before the courts in Massachusetts, as they held their sessions, at New- 
buryport and Ipswich, and that certain individuals were actually com- 
mitted to prison under the arrests which were made- by the claimants in 
that province. We find frequent charges made for attendance at court at 
Ipswich, also a vote of the town to pay the expenses of the individuals 
imprisoned, and to perform for them the necessary work required on their 
farms during their imprisonment." 

As a partial ofi'set to the above, we give the following outline of one of 
the numerous cases where actions were brought against those Haverhill 
settlers who fell to the north of the line ; and which will show the ground 
upon which such actions were brought, and the proceedings thereon. We 
condense it from a petition of Eichard Hazzen to the General Court, dated 
November 22, 1749 : — 

In IZi-i, Robert Boyes, of Londonden-y, brought an action of Eject- 
ment against Jonathan Colburn, of Haverhill, to recover possession of a 
certain piece of land formerly within the jurisdiction of ]\Iassachusetts, 
but, by the running of the line, falling within New Hampshire. Colburn 

o The render will betir in mind that these disturbances only occurred on, and related to, those lands 
which formed a part of the " northwesterly angle of Haverhill," but were claimed by Londonderry as a 
part of their township. Even after the line was run in 1741, and when all the land to the north of it was 
claimed by Kew Hampshire, we find that most, if not all, the suits commenced against the settlers on the 
north side, were brought against those of "Haverhill Peke," or, as it was also then called, "Haverhill 
Pistrict." 



HISTORY OV HAVERHILL. 299 

held the land by virtue of a grant from the proprietors of the town of 
Haverhill to his predecessors, before the town of Londonderry was granted. 
Boyes claimed the land under the grant of Governor Shute for the town 
of Londonderry. At the Inferior Court, judgment was given for the de- 
fendant. The plaintiff appealed, and the Superior Court reversed the 
judgment. Subsequently, Colburn brought a "Writ of Eeview and recov- 
ered, with costs. Boj'^es then appealed to the Governor and Council of 
New Hampshire, " called the Court of Appeals," but after nearly two 
years delay, the title was confirmed to Colburn. 

As an additional offset to the troubles, expenses, and embarrassments of 
the Londonderry settlers, as thus feelingly set forth by their historian, we 
insert a second petition from Mr. Hazzen to the General Court of Massa- 
chusetts : — 

*• To the Honrble Spencer Phips Esq Lieut. Governor and Commander in 
Chief in and over his Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New 
England, The Honrble his Majesties Council and House of Piepresentatives 
in General Court Assembled at Boston May 31 Anno Domini 1753. 

The petition of Eichard Hazzen humbly Sheweth That upon the Late 
running of the Divisionall Line between the Provinces, about one third 
part of the lands belonging to the Ancient Town of Haverhill, fell to the 
Northward of the said Line and within the Province of New Hampshire. 

That being the Case the Government of New Hampshire claimed, not 
only the Jurisdiction of these lands to the North side of the Line but also 
the property (contrary to order of the Crown) and endeavoured to Ouste all 
the inhabitants, which were then more than One hundred families 
Setled by Haverhill to the Northward of it and take away their property 
by force of arms, the people of Kingston and Londonderry oftentimes 
coming in Clans to the Number of forty or fifty at a time, and One One 
hundred or more, to fence in our Lands build on them &c 

That your petitioner seeing the Great distress the poor people liveing on 
the North side of the line were in on the Accompt of the New Hampshire 
Claim and having some Lands there of his own, moved into that Govern- 
ment in order to Aid and assist the Haverhill people against them that came 
to drive them off by force, and did repell them in the same manner and by 
his application made to Governour Wentworth a stop was at Length put to 
such illegal proceedings. 

That Kingston and Londonderry people then directly brought many law- 
suites, against the Inhabitants of Haverhill which your petitioner defended 
to ye Utmost of his power.'"' 

o In the Proprietors' Records, we find many instances where they voted money to assist such persons to 
carry on their suits, or to reimburse them for expenses already incurred. As specimens, we give the 



300 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL 

That in the Course of those tryalls which have now lasted almost Ten 
Years, Your petitioner has been one hundred and thirty Journeys to Ports- 
mouth oftentimes in Eain & Snow heat & Cold, to Attend the Courts or 
prepare for ye Tryalls & has oftentimes been detained there three weeks 
at a time on Expence, whereby he has sunk at least one thousand pounds 
of his Estate, when at the same time if he would have turn'd traytor to 
this Government he might have gotten large Sums without any trouble 

That your petitioner has met with so much difficulty in these affairs 
that rather than endure so much again he would give up all his Estate & 
sit down in the most remote parts of the Earth notwithstanding he has 
had such success that no one Haverhill man has lost his Estate nor are 
any new Settlement made upon us, no new suites Commenct. and but Two 
depending, & them before the Governour & Councill. 

But so it is may it please your Honour & this Honourable Court, that 
your petitioner by reason of his Great Expence has involved his Estate to 
the value of Seven or Eight thousand pounds to Capt. Edward Tyng for 
no more then Thirty four or five hundred pounds money old Tenor, the 
Eedemption of which is now Expired, And your petitioner must Infallibly 
Loose four or five thousand pounds unless releived by this Honoured 
Court 

Y'our petitioner therefore Earnestly, requests this Great and Honourable 
Court to Compassionate his distressed Circumstances & inasmuch as he 
has endeavoured at all times with his power and Estate to defend the 
Title of this Government against Xew Hampshire, You will be pleased to 
Grant him so much money as will clear that mortgage, or Lend it the peti- 
tioner who will make sale of his Land as soon as possible & will pay the 
money in Again & the Overpluss he will devote to the Service of this Gov- 
ernment «& will use all his power and abilities to defend the Title of the 
Massachusetts as Long as he is able to get to Portsmouth 

And your petitioner as in Duty bound 
shall ever pray 

Eichard Hazzen. 

following : — January 15, 1748-9. One hundred pounds was voted " towards defraying ye action before ye 
King and Council wherein Nathaniel French (Kingston) is appellant, against Thomas FoUonsbee and 
others (Haverhill) appellees." 

December 10, 1751, Henry Sanders was voted twenty pounds "to carry on his case against Wheclrighfc 
at Portsmouth." (This was a suit under the famous " Wheelwright claim.") June 29, 1752, Edward 
Flint was voted thirty pounds "to carry on his case against Londonderry at Portsmouth." In November, 
1753, he was voted forty pounds more "to continue his cise." January 1, 1753, fifty pounds was voted 
to prosecute trespassers on the land previously granted " the first minister of Timberlanc, now called 
Hampstead." November 20, 1758, four hundred and seventy eight pounds twelve shillings. New Hamp- 
shire, old Tenor, was voted Nathaniel P. Sargeant, Esq., " for his services in David Heath's and other 
cases." 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 301 

"In the House of Eepves June 8. 1853 Eead and Ordered that the. 
Prayer of the Petr be so far granted as that the Petr recieve out of the 
publick Treasury the sum of four hundred Sixty Eight pounds upon Loan 
free of Interest for the term of five years. He first giving Bond with 
sufiicient sureties for the payment of said sum at the expiration of the time 
abovementioned " 

T. Hubbard Spkr 
In Council June 12, 1753 

Eead & non Concur'd 

Thos. Clarke Dpty Secry 

In the House of Eepves June 13. 1753. The House entered again into 
the consideration of the vote passed upon this Petn the 8th Currt at the 
desire of the Honble Board and after Debate and Mature Consideration 

Voted, that the House adhere to their vote as then sent up to the Honl 
Board 

Sent up for concurrence 



T. Hubbard Spkr 
J Willard Secry 



In Council, June 13, 1753 ; Eead & Concur'd 

Consented to 

S. Phips 
As will be seen from the foregoing petition, the long continued and vex- 
atious border troubles were at last drawing to a close. The last notice we 
find of them in our records is that where, in 1759, the Proprietors chose 
a committee ••■^ to settle with the proprietors of the " Mason claim" to the 
township of Salem. This brought up the rear of the long and motley 
procession of troubles, vexations, and suits, that had for more than a third 
of a century been fastened upon our town, and we feel a decided relief in 
thus closing our history of this, by no means insignificant, " Border War." 

•> Joseph Badger, Jr. 



302 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



1729 TO 1741. 



At the annual town meeting for 1729, a proposition was made to raise 
one hundred pounds for '* school money," and though it was voted down, 
yet the proposal is significant of an increasing interest in the cause of 
popular education. At this time, in addition to the " Grammar" School, 
(which was kept in constant operation, although moved quarterly from 
place to place about town,) there were other schools, termed "Common" 
schools, kept a few weeks each, annually, in various parts of the town. 
School houses were not yet erected in all the places where schools were 
wanted, and it was therefore quite common to keep them in private houses. 
Thus we find that in 1725 a school was kept " one quarter" in the house 
of Samuel Ayer; in 1727, one quarter each in the houses of ""Widow 
Currier," and William Johnson; in 1730 one quarter at John Clements; 
and in 1732, three quarters at the house of Eeuhen Currier. 

In the preceding chapter we alluded to the employment, by Massachu- 
setts and New Hampshire, of agents in England, to manage their affairs 
before the King and Council. The cost of supporting such agents had now 
become so great that the General Court called upon the towns to assist 
in defraying the expenses. At a meeting called for that purpose, this town 
voted to raise fifty pounds, to be delivered to Colonel Eichard Saltonstall, 
the representative, and by him to the Committee of the General Court. 
This not only shows the interest of the town in the great question then 
beginning to excite so much attention, but also the readiness of its inhabi- 
tants to bear their full proportion of the public burden. That this large 
contribution was not an isolated case, is abundantly shown by the records 
of a subsequent period. 

On the 26th of October of this year, twenty-nine members of the first 
church, residents in that part of Methuen, now Salem, N. H., had permis- 
sion granted to embody themselves into a church in that place. They had 
already built themselves a new meeting house. 

At the annual meeting in 1730, the proposition to raise one hundred 
pounds for schools was again brought forward. This time it was coupled 
with the condition that one-half of the sum should be appropriated for the 
support of "the Grammar School near the meeting house;" — but 
the plan again failed. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 303 

The inhabitants of the " North Precinct " were this year allowed ten 
pounds from the Town treasury toward the support of a minister, and 
almost immediately they gave a Mr. Haynes an invitation to settle, but he 
declined. Soon after, they extended an invitation to Eev. James Gushing, 
a son of Eev. Caleb Cushing of Salisbury, who accepted, and was ordained 
in December. On the 1st of November, forty-six members of the first 
church, requested and obtained a dismission, " for the purpose of uniting 
in a church state in the North Precinct." The church was organized 
November-4, 1730. 

This year, (1730,) in addition to the regular board of five Selectmen, 
three persons, — Nathan Webster, Sergeant Joseph Emerson, and Deacon 
Daniel Little — where chosen " Overseers of the Poor." This was the first 
time such of&cers were chosen by the town. They were regularly chosen 
annually from this time until 1735, when they were discontinued, and their 
duties again assigned to the board of Selectmen. The office was not again 
revived until 1801. 

The North Precinct, having settled a minister among them, made appli- 
cation the next spring to the Pi'oprietors for a grant of land for him. They 
promptly gave him a piece containing about twenty-nine acres. 

Prom the Proprietors Eecords for 1731, we learn that Joseph Whittier 
and Moses Hazzen petitioned them for permission to build a wharf on the 
Merrimack, near " Mill Brook; which was granted, on condition that they 
kept the two bridges near them in repair " forever," j)aid fifty pounds, and 
built a good wharf, at least one hundred feet wide, and from the highway 
to low water mark ! We think these terms were stringent enough to satisfy 
the sharpest of the sharp bargain makers among them. 

Under this date, Mirick, in his history of the town, has the following : — 

" About this time an affair happened which was rather derogatory to the 
characters of those concerned. The Commoners had fenced a certain part 
of the ox-common with split rails. This was very much disliked by the 
non-commoners living in the north part of the town, and they determined 
ta be revenged. They soon concerted a plot, and a ^mall party assembled 
near flaggy meadow, on the night appointed to execute it, carried the rails 
into large piles, and set them on fire. The loss of the rails was but trifling 
when compared with the other damage done by the fire. The earth was 
dry, and it run through the woods, and continued to burn for many days." 

From the fact that for several years preceding, and even after the above 
date, these parties were at peace with each other, having settled all their 
disputes, we think the above described incident must have taken place 
about 1724, or 1725, at which time these common disputes were at their 
height. 



304 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

At the annual meeting in 1732, the "profit of the Parsonage farm" 
(that is, the money received for the annual rent of it) was voted to be given 
to the North Parish until there should be another Parish in town. 

At the same time it was decided to " take an exact list of the Poles and 
Estates" in town, and for that purpose a committee was chosen. We 
think the committee must have made a short job of it, as the only future 
record we find relating to it, is a " bill paid Christopher Bartiett one day 
valuation Estates,' six shillings." 

The earliest notice we find of shipbuilding in town, is the following, in 
the proprietors records, under date of June 18, 1733 : — 

" Henry Springer petitioning as followeth viz That he is willing & 
desirous to settle in the Town and Carry on the Trade of a Ship carpenter 
if he might have suitable encouragement. P>ut having no place of his own 
to build on prays the grant of so much Land betwixt the highway by the 
burrying place, and the Ptiver or where the vessell now stands on the Stocks 
as would accommodate him for a building Yard." " Upon which petition 
after mature consideration it was voted that he should have so much, 
provided that he settled in the town of Haverhill & Carried on the Trade 
of a Ship Carpenter, or that some other person built in the same place in 
his room, and no Longer." 

AVe are not to suppose from the above, that Springer was the first ship- 
builder in town, or that he was the only one who could build, or had built, 
ships here ; because, as we have already noticed, wharves had been built, 
and vessels employed, for many years previous. And from the fact that 
the size and finish of the " vessels " of that day required far less skill and 
capital in their construction, than do those of our own time, we may safely 
presume that they had not only been for some time previously employed in 
the commerce of the town, but were also built here. Indeed, the fact that 
Springer in his petition refers to a vessel then on the stocks, is, we think, 
sufficient to establish our point. But that Springer was the first person 
who carried on shipbuilding as a regular business in the town, we are 
inclined to believe, from the fact that his name is the first that appears in 
that connection in either of the Records, which are so minute in all such 
matters, that if it had been otherwise, we should without doubt have 
found the name of his predecessors. 

In March of the following year, the large island in Island Pond was 
disposed of by the proprietors of Haverhill, to Pdchaid Saltonstall. It was 
estimated to contain two hundred acres, one-half of which was given him 
in consideration of valuable services rendered the proprietors, and the 
remaining half sold to him for thirty shillings per acre. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 305 

Early in the spring of the same year (1734) the appearance of a few- 
very large and uncommon " catterpiller " was noticed in the woods of the 
town. These rapidly increased until the trees were nearly covered, 
and a vast amount of damage was done by them. The following inter- 
esting account of them, we copy from a memoranda left by Dr. Joshua 
Bailey of this town : — 

" In the year 1734 there was as soon as the leaves began to appear on 
the Oak trees, a catterpiller in spots in our woods in Haverhill the red & 
black oaks chiefly & in the year 1735 there was 100 for one of what 
appeared last year & in 1786 the number was astonishing for they covered 
almost the whole of the woods in Haverhill & Bradford & part of Methuen 
Chester & Andover and in many other places near Haverhill many thou- 
sands of acres of thick woodland the leaves and tender twings of the last 
years growth were wholly eaten up to the wholly killing of many of the 
trees & others had most of the limbs killed & if providence had continued 
them to a 4th year we should not have a tree left in most of the places they 
seemed to like the red & black oak but when they had destroyed the leaves 
of the oak they cleared all before them and you might travel miles in some 
places and see no green leaves on any but a few trees that were standing 
single and in midsummer the wood was as naked as midwinter they were 
larger than our common catterpiller and made no nests the trees in some 
places completely covered with them and they would travel from tree to 
tree no river or pond stopped them for they would swim like dogs and 
travelled in great armies and I have seen Houses so covered with them 
that you could see little or no part of the building on every leaf of a tree 
you might see more or less of them." 

Richard Kelley, of Amesbury, in his diary, described them as " larger 
than the 'orchard caterpillr, but smooth on the back with a black streak 
with white spots." And he adds, — " they are thought by many to be the 
palmer worm." 

In 1734, the inhabitants of the easterly part of the town petitioned to be 
. set off into a separate Parish by themselves, which was agreed to by the 
town, and the dividing line run. But some of the inhabitants of the 
proposed ncAV parish, being opposed to a separation, made such vigorous 
efforts against it, that when application was made to the General Court to 
perfect the work, it not only refused to do so, but ordered the petitioners 
back to the old Parish."-' 

Immediately after, the people of the westerly part of the town, (between 
whom and those of the easterly part there appears to have been an " under- 

® The petition was signed by Nathaniel Feaslee, "for himself nnd others." 

39 



306 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

standing" in this matter) made a similar application, wLicli was granted, 
and the west part of the town set off into a distinct Parish, called the Wesl- 
Parish. The inhabitants of the new Parish immediately commenced th« 
building of a meeting house, which was completed the same fall. It stood 
one mile east of the present brick meeting house in the above Parish, on 
the south west corner of the cross road, and where Timothy J. Goodrich now 
lives. Soon after, a call was extended to Eev. Samuel Bachellor, who ac- 
cepted, and was ordained in the following July. Seventy-seven members of 
the first church requested and received a dismission, for the purposes 
of forming the new church. 

In 1734, also, the North Parish "burying ground" was laid out, the 
land being given for that purpose by the Haverhill Proprietors. It was the 
same ground which is still occupied for the same purpose, — a short distance 
above the house of Jesse Clement, Esq. 

In March, 1735, the town, for the first time, voted " to mend and repair 
the highways by a rate." The prices fixed upon for labor, were, four 
shillings per day for a man, and two shillings for a yoke of oxen. The 
surveyors were to be the judges of a day's work. Though the town voted 
as above, we do not find that a separate sum was voted to be raised as a 
highway rate, or tax, until 1754 — twenty years after. 

At the annual meeting in 1736, the town voted to divide the income 
from all the parsonage land west of the Sawmill Eiver (Little Kiver) equally 
between the North and West Parish. The same year, the Proprietors gave 
the AVest Parish forty acres of land, and also gave their minister, the Eer. 
Mr. Bachellor, seventy acres for his own use. 

In October of the above year, the Proprietors voted to survey all the 
meadows lying in common in the town, and divide them among themselves. 
The proportion each should receive was to be governed by the original 
grants of "accommodation" land. 

In May, 1735, a Mr. Clough, of Kingston, N. H., having examined the 
throat of a hog which died of a throat disease, was himself suddenly at- 
tacked with a swelling of the throat, and lived but a few days. Three 
weeks after, three children in his neighborhood were attacked in a similar 
manner, and died in thirty-six hours. From this, the disease spread 
rapidly, and proved fearfully fatal, particularly to children. It extended 
itself in all directions, passing through the British Colonics on the cast, 
and into New York on the west. It was two years in reaching the Hud- 
son. Between June, 1735, and July, 1736, nine hundred and eighty-four 
died in fourteen towns of New Hampshire. It appeared in this town in 
October, 1736, and swept off more than one-half of all the children under 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 307 

fifteen years of age. Almost every liouse was turned into a habitation of 
mourning, and scarce a day passed that was not a witness of the funeral 
procession. Many a hopeful son, or lovely daughter, arose in the morning 
with apparent perfect health ; but, ere the sun went down, they were cold 
and silent in the winding-sheet of the dead. In many families, not a child 
was left to cheer the hearts of the stricken parents. Fifty-eight families 
lost one each ; thirty-four lost two each ; eleven lost three each ; five lost 
four each ; and four lost five each. One hundred and ninety-nine fell 
victims to the terrible distemper, in this town ! Only one of these was 
over forty years of age. 

The disease was attended with a sore throat, white or ash-colored spots, 
an efilorescence on the skin, great general debility, and a strong tendency 
to putridity. Eev. John Brown, minister of the First Parish, published a 
particular account of this distemper, in a large pamphlet. Three of his 
own children were numbered among the victims. 

Shortly afterward, a pamphlet of seventeen pages of rhyme, concerning 
the ravages of this distemper, was published in Boston. We cannot resist 
the temptation to copy a couple of specimen verses : — 

«* To Newbunj O go and see 

To Hampton and Kingston 
To York likewise and Kittery 

Behold what God hath done. 
The bow of God is bent abroad 

Its arrows swiftly fly 
Young men and maids and sucking babes 

Are smitten down thereby." 

The same disease appeared again in 1763, but in a much milder form. 

In 1737, the town voted to build an almshouse, so as to support their 
poor under one roof, instead of hiring them kept in private families. For 
some reason not given, it was not, however, commenced this year, but at 
the nejit annual meeting, it was again voted to build such an house, and 
it was done the same year. It stood just below Mill Brook, on the river 
side.'-' The new system did not work as well as was expected, and a few 
years after, (1746) the town voted to sell the almshouse, and return to the 
good old plan of their fathers before them. 



o In 174:7, Nathanid Pcaslee petitioned the Troprietors for a piece of land "where the almshouse now 
stands, beginning bj' ye Mill Brook about a rod below the Bridge, thence south to Jlerrimack Kivcr," &.C. 
This was after the town had voted to sell the Almshouse. 



308 HISTORY OF HAVERniLL. 

Though the town of Methuen was set off in 1725, it docs not appeaif 
that the line between the two towns was actually settled until the year 
1737, when we find that Lieutenant Kichard Kimball, of Bradford, was 
chosen to *' settle the line between Haverhill and Methuen." This did 
not, however, " settle" the matter, as we find that the next year the town 
ordered the selectmen to join with the selectmen of Methuen and run the 
line, — which they did. The line thus agreed upon has continued to 
the present time as the dividing line between the two towns. 

Among the things which call for mention, in our history for 1738, is the 
petition of Hannah Bradley, of this town, to the General Court, asking 
for a grant of land, in consideration of her former suflPerings among the 
Indians, and "present low circumstances." In answer to her petition, 
that honorable body granted her two hundred and fifty acres of land, 
which was laid out May 29, 1739, by Richard Hazzen, Surveyor. It was 
located in Methuen, in two lots, — the first, containing one hundred and 
sixty acres, bordering on the west line of Haverhill ; the other, containing 
ninety acres, bordering on the east line of Dracut. 

Mrs. Bradley's good success in appealing to the generosity of the Gen- 
eral Court, seems to have stimulated Joseph Neff, a son of Mary NeflF, to 
make a similar request. He shortly after petitioned that body for a grant 
of land, in consideration of his mother's services in assisting Hannah 
Duston in killing " divers Indians." Neff declares in his petition, that 
his mother was " kept a prisoner for a considerable time," and " in their 
return home past thro the utmost hazard of their lives and Suffered 
distressing want being almost Starved before they Could Eeturn to their 
dwellings." 

Accompanying Neff 's petition, was the following deposition of Hannah 
Bradley, which well deserves a place in our pages, for its historical interest 
The document proves that Mrs. Bradley was taken prisoner at the same 
time with Mrs. Duston, and travelled with her as far as Pennacook : — 

" The deposition of the Widow Hannah Bradly of Haverhill of full age 
who testifieth & saith that about forty years past the said Hannah together 
with the widow Mary Neff were taken prisoners by the Indians & carried 
together into captivity, & above penny cook the Deponent was by the 
Indians forced to travel farther than the rest of the Captives, and the next 
night but one there came to us one Squaw who said that Hannah Dustan 
and the aforesaid Mary Neff assisted in killing the Indians of her wigwam 
except herself and a boy, herself escaping very narrowly, shewing to myself 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 309 

& others seven wounds as she said with a Hatched on her head which 
wounds were given her when the rest were killed, and further saith not. 

her 

Hannah X Bradly." 

mark 

The above deposition was sworn to before Joshua Bayley, of Haverhill, 
June 28tb, 1739-. 

The General Court granted Neff two hundred acres of land. 

About this time (1738) a ferry was established on the Merrimack, about 
a mile and a half below the present chain ferry, and near where Follansbee 
Noyes now lives. It was soon after removed a mile up river, near the 
present house of David Nichols. 

The first rum distillery in town, was built about this time, as we find, 
under date of November 6, 1738, a petition from James McHard, to the 
Proprietors, in which he says : — " there is a small vacancy of land betwixt 
the parsonage Land and Merrimack river by Mr. Pecker's which I am 
informed belongs to the proprietors of Haverhill and I being about to build 
a Still House for the good of the Town of Haverhill and without any regard 
to my Own Interest, as I generally do," &c., and he therefore requests that 
they will give him liberty to erect his distillery on that lot. This they 
agreed to do, provided he built within three years. It stood on the stream 
•(Mill Brook) near what is now the upper mill. 

About this time, the long row of sycamore-trees that, for a century 
afterward, added so much to the natural beauty of the " Saltonstall Seat," 
(now the residence of Mrs. Samuel W. Duncan) were set out." The work 
was done by one Hugh Talent, an "exile of Erin," and a famous fiddler 
withal. Tradition says that the village swains and lasses did not allow 
the cat-gut and rosin of this musical Talent to rust for want of use. He 
lived with Colonel Saltonstall, in the capacity of a servant. Poor Hugh ! 
For nearly three generations after he had " hung up his fiddle and his 
bow," the beautiful trees he planted, were the pride of our village, and the 
admiration of all who beheld them. Many an one, whose head is sprinkled 
o'er with the frosts of many winters, as he reads these lines, will call to 
mind the days and scenes of the time when the " Old Buttenwoods" were 
flourishing in all their glory, and will embalm their memory with a sigh — 
perhaps with a tear ! 

The summer of 1740 was as remarkable for the vast amount of rain 
which fell, and flooded the country, as the subsecjuent winter was for the 

o May 23, 1748, "R Saltonstall" petitioned the Proprietors for about one-fourth acre of land south of 
his homestead, " where he had lately planted some Button Trees." The petition was granted. 



310 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

severity of its cold. It was probably tbe most severe winter that bad 
been known since the settlement of the country. After a very wet sum- 
mer and fall, November 4th it set in very cold. On the loth, a foot of 
snow fell, but on the 22nd it began to rain, " and it rained three weeks 
together." This produced a freshet in the Merrimack, the like of which 
" was not known by no man for seventy years."-" The water rose fifteen 
feet in this town, and floated off many houses. On the 12th of December, 
the river was closed by the severity of the weather, and before the 1 st of 
January, loaded teams, with four, six, and eight oxen, passed from Haver- 
hill and the towns below, to the upper long wharf at Newburyport. The 
ice in Plumb Island River did not break up until the 30th of March, 
1741. There were twenty-seven snow storms during the winter.f 

By the running of the new line between Massachusetts and New Hamp- 
shire, in 1741, nearly one-third of the population, territory, and property 
of the town of Haverhill, fell to the north of the line. "\Vhen to this is 
added the large portion set off for Methuen, in 1725, we find that more than 
one-half of its stock of all those elements which combine to make a first 
class New England town, had been taken from Haverhill within the short 
period of fifteen years. It was, indeed, a great change in its condition, 
and prospects, and must have been felt most seriously. 

Soon after the State line was run, the town instructed its selectmen to 
take an exact list of the polls and estates on the north side of the line, 
which was done. J The list is entitled "A List of Polls and Rateable 
Estate Real & Personal, for the Town of Haverhill in the County of Essex, 
Taken in the year 1741. This list contains only those living in that part 
of the town that falls into N HampshireProvince according to Mr Mitch- 
els Line."§ This document, which is still among the town's papers, 
contains the following names : — 

Abraham Annis, Edward Carlton, Jr, Obadiah Perry, 

John Currier, Timothy Johnson, Seth Patce, 

John Currier, Jur, "William Johnson, Benjamin Smith, 

Richard Carlton, Peter Patee, Thomas Smith, 

* Stephen Jaqucs. t Rev. Mr. Plant. 

t The immediate cause which prompted this action, was the ftxct that those on the north side of the lino 
refused to pay taxes any longer to Haverhill, — or even those of the current year. 

§ Anions the papers in the State Archives, is a petition of Nathaniel Rolfo, and John Russell, Jr., to 
the Gener.~.l Court, in 1753, setting forth that when the State line was rnn in 1741, the meeting house in 
the North Parish, with two-thirds of the inhabitants, fell on the New H.ampshire side, while the minister's 
house, and the greatest part of the land, fell on the Massachusetts side ; that some living on the latter side 
refused to pay their minister's rate, being in doubt about the power to raise money for such purposes; and 
therefore the petitioners asked that such power might be given them — if they did not then have it. Tho 
Court thereupon, April 7, 1753, resolved the portion south of the line into a separate and distinet Parish, 
with all the powers, &c., of a Parish. 



HISTOHY OP HATEHHILL. 



311 



John Smitli, 
Eichard Patee, 
Jonathan Wheler, 
John Watts, 
John Webster, 
William Webster, 
Daniel Whitiker, 
Benjamin Wheler, 
Stephen Wheler, 
David Copp, 
Moses Copp, 
Thomas Crawfford, 
Jonathan Coborn, 
John Dow, Jul", 
Stephen Emerson, Jur, 
Peter Easmau, 
William Easman, 
Eoberd Emerson, Jur, 
Benjamin Emerson, 
Jonathn Emery, 
Humphry Emery, 
Eichard Flood, 
Eoberd Ford, 
Joseph Gill, 
Moses Gill, 
Ebenr Gill, 
John Heath, 
James Heath, 
David Heath, 
James Heath, Jur, 
Eichard Heath, 
Jonathan Hutchens, 
Thomas hall, 
Benjamin heath, 
Zacariah Johnson, 
Micael Johnson, 
Stephen Johnson, 
Stephen Johnson, Jur, 
John Kent, 
Jonathn Kimball, 
Nathaniel Knight, 
John Kezar, 
Jonathan Merrill, 
Nathaniel MeiTill, 
James Mills, 
Joseph Page, 
Jonathan Page, 
Caleb Page, 



Timothy Page, 
Benjamin Eichards, 

Samuel Stevens, 
John Stevens, 
Nehemiah Stevens, 
Samuel Stevens, Jur, 
William Stevens, 
Jonathan Stevens, Jur, 
Joseph Stevens, Jur, 
Samuel Worthen, Jur, 
Jonathn Whitiker, 
James White, 
Israel Webster, 
Thomas Pope, 
Edmand Page, 
Timothy Noyse, 
George Little, 
Daniel Little, 
George Little, Jur, 
Samuel Little, 
Joseph Little, 
Caleb Heath, 
Joshua Page, 
John Hogg, 
William Mackmaster, 
W^illiam Mackmaster, Jr 
Arter Boyd, 
Askebell Kinnicum, 
Askebell Forsh, 
Thomas Davison, 
Holbert mon'ison, 
William Hogg, 
Walter Mackfortin, 
John Stinson, 
Thomas Horner, 
Alexander Kelcy, 
Micael Gorden, 
Eoberd Mackcurdy, 
Peter Christy, 
William Callis, 
John Miller, 
Eobert Eeddel, 
Thom Christy, 
William Gilmore, 
Paul Mackfarten, 
James Macfarten, 
James Adums, 
James Adums, Jur, 



Daniel Mactcafee,, 
Heugh Mackcafee, 
John Mackcafee, 
James Gilmore, 
Samuel Patterson, 
William Chambers, 
Samuel Graves, 
James Graves, 
Moses Tucker, 
William Hancock, 
Nathll Heath, 
Lemuel Tucker, 
John Hunkins, 
John Atwood, 
Othro Stevens, 
Eliphelet Page, 
John Muzzee, 
Wait Stevens, 
Samuel Anderson, 
Nathll Wackfarlee, 
John Mackcaster, 
Eoberd Gilmore, 
Jonathan Coborn, Jur, 
Daniel Poor, 
Jonathan Dusten, Jur, 
Moses Trussel, 
Capt Nicolas White, 
Francis Smiley, 
John Smiley, 
Heugh Smiley, 
Capt Christopher Bartlet, 
Nathaniel Bartlet, 
Jonathan Bradlee, 
John Bradlee, 
Joseph Beartoe, 
Obadiah Clements, 
Abraham Chase, 
Thomas Cheney, 
Josiah Copp, 
Timothy Dow, 
John Dow, 
Peter Dow, 
John Dusten, 
David Emerson, 
Ephraim Emerson, 
Timothy Emerson, 
Heugh Pike. 
Joseph Earwine, 



312 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



Samuel Eaton, 
Thomas Follcnsby, 
Danuel Gile, 
Josepli^Hcath, 
Nchemiah Heath, 
John Heath, Jur, 
Samuel Heath, 
Joseph Heath, Jur, 
AVilliam heath, 
Josiah heath, 
Bartholomew heath, 
John Herriman, 
Leonard Harriman, 



Leonard Harriman, Jur, 
Mathew Harriman, 
Abner Herriman, 
Joseph Herriman, 
Henry Haseltine, 
Edman Hale, 
Jonathan Johnson, 
Wid mary Kimball, 
Samuel Kimball, 
Jonathan Koberds, 
Jonathan Stevens, 
Moses Stevens, 
Samuel Smith, 



Nathaniel Smith, 
Thomas AVorthin, 
Samuel AVorthin, 
John Pollord, 
Nathll Tucker, 
Samuel Brown, 
Benjamin Stone, 
Nathaniel Johnson, Jur, 
moses Jackman, 
Benjamin Pettingall, 
John French, i 

Nathll Gatchell. v 



Following the list, is a certificate, signed by Joshua Bayley, Justice of 
the Peace, setting forth that the selectmen were duly sworn to perform the 
duty assigned them, on the 9th of December, 1741. 

The relative extent and value of the portion which fell to New Hamp- 
shire on the settlement of the boundary line, may be seen from the 
following, which we copy from the last page of the above document : — 



Without New Hampshire Line,. 
Within the Line 



1 




S 


B 
O 


.5 
1 




■a 
O 


S 
o 


g 

■A 

o 


i 


1 


346 


214 


7 


1126 


7-. I 


723 


125* 


10 


266 


540 


184 


2lo 


158 


9 


4.58 


308 


152 


.^9 


2 


239 


346 135| 



128 
20 



The following list of names, includes all in that part of the town south 
of the new State line, and east of the West Parish line ; or, in other words, 
all those in what is now the First, the North, and the East Parishes. 
They are copied from a document, entitled 

" The Town Rate for the East Part of Haver hill a List of That Part of 
the Tax made By the Assessors of Haverhill on December ye 10 1741 for 
Benjamin G-ale Constable and Collector of said Part of the town to Collect 
and pay into The Town Treasury" 



James Ayer, 
John Ayer, 
David Ayer, 
Timothy Ayer, 
Samuel Ayer, 
Samuel Apleton, 
"William Otterson, 
John Ayer, Jur, 
AVilliam Ayer, 



Joseph Badger, 
Coll Joshua Baj'ley, 
Isaac Bradley, Jur, 
Daniel Bradley, 
William Bradley, 
Joseph Bond, 
Ebenczer Belknap, 
James Bradbery, 
Moses Belknap, 



James Black, 
John Boynton, 
Obadiah Belknap, 
Andrew Bryant, 
Ebenezer Buck, 
Jonathan Buck, 
Joseph Badger, Jur, 
Barnabas Bradbery, 
Samuel Clements, 



HISTORY OF HATERHIIL. 



313 



Moses Clements, 
Euben Currier, 
Caleb Currier, 
Jacob Chase, 
Abncr Chase, 
Eichard Colbey, 
Isaac Colbey, 
Ezra Chase, 
John Cogswell, 
Nathaniel Cogswell, 
John Clement, Jur, 
Elexander Camball, 
Ebenezer Colbey, 
John Bradbery, 
Samuel Dow, 
Josiah Chandler, 
Isaac Daiton, 
AYilliam Davis, 
Daniel Davis, 
John Diivis, Jun, 
Moses Davis, 
Ephraim Davis, 
Eobert Davis, 
Samuel Davis, Jur, 
Thomas Duston, 
John Duston, 
David Dodg, 
Thomas Diamond, 
John Edwards, 
Timothy Eaton, 
John Eaton, 
Moses Eaton, 
Israel Ela, 
John Ela, 
Samuel Ela, 
Jacob Ela, 
Nathaniel Edwards, 
Eichard Emerson, 
Daniel Ela, 
Abiel Foster, 
Edward Flynt, 
"William Follensby, 
John George, 
James Gile, 
Samuel Gile, 
Joseph Grelee, Jur, 
•: Peter Green, 
Benjamin Grelee, 
40 



John Gage, 
"William George, 
Benjamin Gale, 
John Green, 
Gideon George, 
Eobert Hunkins, Jur, 
David Hutchens, 
Eobert Hastins, 
Eobert Hastins, Jun, 
Eichard Hazzen, 
Moses Hazzen, 
Jonathan Haseltine, 
Eobert Hunkins, 
James Holgate, 
AYilliam Handcock 
Zachariah Hanniford, 
George Hastins, 
Jonathan Haseltine Jur, 
Timothy Haseltine, 
Benjamin Haseltine, 
John Haseltine, 
Daniel Herrick, 
Stephen Huse, 
Samuel Hunt, 
Thomas Hunkins, 
John Heuston, 
Thomas Johnson, 
Daniel Johnson, 
Marverick Johnson, 
Samuel Johnson, 
Nathaniel Knolton, 
Joseph Kelley, 
Joseph Kelley Jur, 
Abner Kimball, 
Abraham Kimball, 
Ebenezer Kezer, 
John Kezer, Jur, 
John Howard, 
Jonathan Lufkin, 
Thomas Ijittle, 
James Mehard, 
David Marsh, 
John Morrowson 
Nathan Merrill, 
William Morse, 
Bradbery Morrowson, 
Jonathan Marsh, 
Capt John Pecker, 



Nathaniel Page, 
Abraham Page 
James Pearson, 
James Pearson Jur, 
Eobert Peaslee, 
Amos Peaslee, 
Cornelius Page, ■ — 
Nathaniel Peaslee, 
Lewes Page, 
Abraham Page Jur, 
Jeremiah Page, 
Joshua Page, 
Eobert Toney, 
Ezekiel Page, 
Joseph Palmer, 
Philip Eowel, 
Eowland Eideout, 
"Wid Hannah Eoberds, 
Col Eichard Saltonstall, 
James Sanders, 
Samuel Smith Jur, 
Nathaniel Sanders, 
John Sanders, 
Jacob Sanders, 
John Sweat, 
Henry Springer, 
Jonathan Springer, 
John Sawyer, 
Samuel Shepard, 
Jonathan Shepard, 
Jonathan Simons, 
Nathan Simons, 
John Simons, 
Nathan Simons Jur, 
George Sanclar, 
Philip Stanwood, 
Samuel Simons, 
Edward Thompson, 
Jonathan Tyler, 
Joseph Tyler, 
Samuel AVhite, 
John White, 
Samuel White Jur, 
John White Jur, 
Joseph Whittier, 
Ebenezer Whittier, 
David Whiting, 
John Whiting, 



314 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 



Joseph "VYillson, 
Ezckiel Willsou, 
AVilliam M'illsoD, 
John Willson, 
Grant "Webster, 
Benjamin AVooster, 
John Wells, 
Jacob "Woodward, 
Nathaniel Woodman, 
Nathaniel Walker, 



Thomas Cheney, 
Josiah Copp, 
Benjamin Clements, 
Timothy Dow, 
John Dow, 
Peter Dow, 
John Davis, 
Joseph Emerson, 
David Emerson, 
Ephraim Emerson, 



"Wid Elizabeth Whittier Robert Emerson, 



Thomas Whittier, 
John Willson Jur, 
Israel Young, 
William Townsend, 
James Bly, 
Stephen Dow, 
Samuel Duston, 



Timothy Emerson, 
Hcugh Pike, 
Joseph Earwine, 
Jabesh Emerson, 
Samuel Eaton, 
Thomas Eollensby, 
Daniel Gile, 



w^idw Mchitcbal EmersonJoseph Heath, 
Nchemiah Emerson, Nehcmiah Heath, 



Thomas Mingo, 
Benjamin Moody, 
Capt Nicolas White, 
Joseph Mulikin, 
Timothy Hardy, 
Erancis Smiley, 
John Smiley, 
Hcugh Smiley, 



John Heath Jur, 
Samuel Heath, 
Joseph Heath Jur, 
William Heath Jur, 
Josiah Heath, 
Bartholomew Heath, 
John Herriman, 
Leonard Harriman, 



Capt Cliiistcpher BartletLeonard Harriman Jr 



Nathaniel Bartlet, 
Jonathan Bartlet, 
John Bradlee, 
Joseph Beartoe, 
John Clements, 
Obadiah Clements 
Abraham Chase, 



Matthew Harriman 
Richard Harriman, 
Abncr Harriman, 
Joseph Harriman, 
Stephen Harriman, 
Joshua Harriman, 
Henry Haseltine, 



Edmand Hale, 
William Johnson, 
Thon.as Johnson, 
Nathaniel Johnson, 
John Johnson, 
Cornelius Johnson, 
Jonathan Johnson, 
Daniel Johnson Jur, 
Wid Mary Kimball, 
Samuel Kimball, 
Jonathan Roberts, 
Jonathan Stevens, 
Moses Stevens, 
Samuel Smith, 
Nathaniel Smith, 
Thomas Worthen, 
Samuel Worthen, 
William Whitiker, 
David Whitiker, 
John Pollord, 
Nathaniel Tucker, 
. Samuel Brown, 
John Steward, 
Benjamin Stone, 
Nathaniel Johnson Jur, 
John Chase, 
Humphrey Chase, 
Moses ]\Iorgin, 
Joseph Johnson, 
Moses Jackman, 
Benjamin Pettingall, 
John French, 
Nathall Gatchell, 
Nathan Haseltine, 
Nathaniel Green, "^^ 
Nathaniel phersen. 



AVe have not been able to find a list of the Polls in the West Parish, in 
1741. The nearest we can get, is 1745. But as, in all probability, very few 
changes were made in that part of the town in the interim, and as we are 
desirous to complete, as near as may be, a list of all the Polls in the town 
at this period of its history, we give below the names in that parish for 
1745. They are as follows : — 

Decon Peter Aycr, JiUt Thomas Bayley, 

Doct William Ayer, Dec Joseph Bradley, 

Simon Ayer, Amos Bayley, 

Jacob Ayer, Ebenezar Brown, 



Ncamiah Bradley, 
William Bayley, 
Ebcnezcr Bayley, 
John Buck, 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 



315 



Jeremiah Bayley, 
Humphrey Bayley, 
William 13orman, 
Cor Edward Carleton, 
Peter Carlton, 
Nathaniel Clement, 
John Corliss, 
Thomas Corliss, 
John Corliss Jr, 
Samuel Currier, 
Nathaniel Clement Jr, 
Nathaniel Chase, 
Samuel Clement, 
James Cook, 
Joseph Corliss, 
Nathaniel Duston, 
Jonathan Duston, 
Nathaniel Duston Jr, 
Thomas Eatton, 
James Eatton, -^ 
Joshua Emery, 
Timothy Emerson, 
Samuel Emerson, 
Joseph Emerson jr, 
John Emerson, 
Mical Emerson, 
Joseph Emerson tr, 
Jonathan Emerson, 
Stephen Emerson, 
Jonathan Eatton, ^ 
Jonathan Emerson Jr, 
Obadiah Emerson, 
Peter Emejson, 



Joseph Emerson 4th, 
Ithamor Emerson, 
Samuel Gage, 
Stephen Gage, 
Capt Philip Hasltinc, 
Dec Samuel Hasltinc, 
Thomas Haines, 
Joseph Haines, 
Samuel Hutchings, 
Joseph Hutchings, 
Nathan Hutchings, 
Joseph HCseltinc, 
Samuel Hutchings Jr, 
Jeremiah Heseltine, 
Jonathan Haines, 
James Haseltine, 
Nathaniel Haseltine, 
John Haseltine, 
Eldad Ingalls, 
John Kezzer 
Ens Daniel Ladd, 
Ens John Ladd, 
Daniel Ladd Jr, 
Timothy Ladd, 
Nathaniel Marble, 
Epheram Marsh, 
Samuel Marble, 
Jonathan Marble, 
John Marble, 
Joseph Merrile, 
Wido Euth Merriel, 
Andrew Mitehel, 



Phillip Mitehel, 

William Mitehel, 
John Mitehel, 
Nathaniel Merriel, 
Timothy Messer, 
Benjamin Hilton, 
James Nimock, 
Edward Ordiway, 
Thomas Page, 
Thomas Page Jr, 
Beniamian Patee, 
Samuel Standley, 
Mathew Standle3^ 
John Silver, 
John Silver Jr, 
Samuel Silver, 
John Smith, 
John Stward, 
Nathan Webster, 
Thomas Webster, 
Jonathan Webster, 
Stephen Webster, tr 
Samuel Webster, 
Nathaniel Webster, 
Stephen Whiteier, 
Samuel Whiteier, 
Samuel Watts, 
Stephen Webster. 
Ebenezer Webster, 
Daniel Williams, 
John Watts Jr, 
Stephen Webster Jr, 
Baraerah Varnon. 



Cap James Mitehel, 

Previous to taking leave of our friends on the north of the line, who 
were thus suddenly, and without their consent, transferred to another 
State jurisdiction, we can do no less than insert a brief sketch of their 
subsequent history." We commence with 

Hampstead. — This town is made up of two segments, one from Haver- 
hill, the other from Amcsbury, being cut off from those towns by the State 
line in 1741. It was originally called Timberland, or Timberlane, on ac- 
count of the abundance of its timber. 

The Indians never made it a place of abode, if we except one or two 
who lived temporarily at " Angly Pond," in the northeast part of the town. 

-' Those portions of Ilavtrhill and Araeslniry which fi;ll to tho north of the new line, were soon after 
incorporated by the General Court of New Hampshire into a District, under the name of "Haverhill 
District," and continued to be known by that name until finally divided and incorporated into towns. 



316 HISTORY OF HATERHILt. 

The first families of white settlers -were Ford, Heath, and Emerson. The 
latter -was from Haverhill, and settled near a brook in the south part of 
the town, where his descendants still reside. 

From a petition of Eichard Hazzen to the General Court of New Hamp- 
shire, under date of May, 1748, "in behalf of that part of Haverhill 
District commonly called Timberland," we learn that " two thirds of Eev. 
Mr. Cushing's hearers (exclusive of Timberland) live on the north side 
of the Boundary line," and that in November, 1747, the district voted 
that those on the north side should pay two hundred pounds as their pro- 
portion of Mr. Cushing's salary, but at a legal meeting held afterward, the 
inhabitants of Timberland were set off from Mr. Cushing's parish. Ke 
therefore prayed for power to levy a rate for their own minister, which 
was granted. 

A meeting-house was built, and a minister settled^- the same year, 
(1748). Eev. Mr. Barnard, of Haverhill, preached the ordination ser- 
mon. The first article in Mr. True's agreement, was, " That he should 
have the parsonage lands, allotted by Haverhill to Timbcrlanc, which was 
soyjetimes called Haverhill District, but now Hampstead, for the first set- 
tled minister."! 

The town was incorporated by its present name, January 19, 1749. 

Among the principal men of the new town, may be named Eichard Haz- 
zen, Daniel Little, and Captain John Hazzen, all of whom were originally 
from Haverhill. Eichard Hazzen, as will be seen from his petition in the 
preceding chapter, removed to Hampstead during the border troubles. He 
became one of the leading men of the town.. In 1750, he surveyed, and 
made a map, of the whole of the eastern coast, from the Merrimack to the 
St. Croix rivers. After his death, his widow petitioned the General Court 
of Massachusetts for aid. From her petition, we learn that Hazzen did 
not receive the money previously voted him by that body. He died, 
suddenly, on the road from Haverhill to Hampstead, in October, 1754. 

Daniel Little was also a prominent man in the town. By the act of 
incorporation, he was designated as the person to call the first town meet- 
ing under the charter. Eev. Daniel Little, the first minister at Kennebunk, 
Maine, was a son of the above. 

Captain John Hazzen, was a nephew of Eichard, and a man of great 
enterprise. After living several years in Hampstead, he went, as leader 

o Kcv. Henry True. 

t The Church was not organized, however, until June 3, 1752. Sixty-eight persons united in its forma- 
tion, fifteen of whom were from the first church in Haverhill. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 317 

of a company, to settle a new town in northern Xew Hampshire, on the 
Connecticut, and had the address to have the town named for his own 
place of nativity — Haverhill. 

Captain Hazzen was an officer in the old French War, and stood high 
in the estimation of government. Expecting a charter of a township in 
the " Coos," if he made a settlement therein, he, in 1761, sent on his cat- 
tle, with two men, Michael Johnston and JohnPettie, (both also of Haver- 
hill, Massachusetts,) to commence such a settlement. In the spring of 
1762, Captain Hazzen went on himself, with hands and materials for build- 
ing a saw-mill and a grist-mill.''* 

It appears that Kingston claimed that part of Hampstead called Ames 
hury Peak, and, in 1760, writ after writ was served upon them to recover. 
It was finally settled in 1764, by giving Kingston "^1000 old tenor," 
and a grant of a new township near the Connecticut, which was called 
Unity, as it made Peace. 

Plaistow. — This town, a large part of which was originally a part of 
Haverhill, was incorporated as a town, February 28, 1749. Among its 
first settlers, who were nearly all Haverhill men, may be mentioned Cap- 
tain Charles Bartlett and Nicholas White, Esq., both of whom were men 
of considerable prominence. Its first church was that of the Eev. Mr. 
Cushing, which fell a few rods to the north of the State line in 1741, 

Atkinson was set off from Plaistow, in 1767, and incorporated September 
3d of the same year. It was named in honor of the Hon. Theodore Atkin- 
son, a large landholder in the town, and. one of the principal men of the 



<* Among those wKo accompanied him at this time, was Colonel Joshua Howard, of this town, then 
twenty-two years of age. (1) Johnston was drowned the same season, while descending the Connecticut, 

(1) lie died in Haverhill, N. H., in 1839, aged ninety-uine years. 
on a visit to his friends, and was buried on a small island, since known as Johnston's Island." Colonel 
Charles Johnston, (brother of the above,) Jesse Harriman, Thom.is Johnson, David Merrill, and Ezekiel 
Ladd, all of Haverhill, were also among the earlier settlers of the new township. The latter afterward 
became one of the principal men of the place, and occupied the most responsible positions. He married 
Euth Ilntchins, also of Haverhill, and died in 1818, aged eighty years, 

■ The wifi; of Mr. Ladd had seen and tasted some of the refinements of life, and in after years she often 
related her extreme mortification on the first Sabbath she attended meeting at her new home. She had 
been recently married, and thinking she must appear as well as any of her neighbora, she put on her 
wedding silks, with muflled cnlTs, extending from the shoulder to the elbow, and there made fast by bril- 
liant sleeve buttons. She wore silk hose, and florid shoes. Her husband, also, appeared in his best, and 
they took their seats early in the sanctuary. But, as she said, " they went alone, sat alone, and returned 
alone ; " for it was not possible for her to get near enough to any of the women to hold conversation with 
them. They were actually afraid of her, and kept at a safe distance lest they should spoil her dress. The 
next Sabbath she appeared in a clean check-linen dress, with other articles in accordance, and found no 
difficulty in making the acquaintance of her neighbors, who proved to be sociable and warm hearted friends. 
Mr. Ladd afterward becamfS widely known as "Judge Ladd," and was highly respected and beloved.2 

3 Hist. Sketches Coos Co. p. 45, 



31 S HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

province. Previous to its incorporation, it was sometimes called New 
Castle. Settlements were made within the town's limits as early as 1727 
or 172M. The first permanent settlers were Jonathan and Edmund Page, 
and John Dow, — all of Haverhill. 

Nathaniel Cogswell, who for between thirty and forty years was a mer- 
chant in Haverhill, was among its first principal men. ' The land for the 
first meeting-house was given by him. He was born in Ipswich, in 1707, 
and married Judith, a daughter of Joseph Badger, of Haverhill. Out of 
his nineteen ehildi'en, he gave eight sons to the service of the Revolution, 
who performed collectively thirty-eight years of service, and all survived 
the war ! All of his children were baptised in the first church at Haver- 
hill, f Mr. Cogswell was a man of large means, as well as patriotism, and 
loaned much money to his town to expend for the American cause. 

The first minister in Atkinson was the Eev. Stephen Peabody, of Ando- 
ver, Massachusetts, who was ordained November 25, 1772, at which time 
a church was formed. | He died in 1819, aged seventy-eight. 

Stephen Peabody Webster, of Haverhill, was the first person who en- 
tered college from Atkinson Academy. He was afterward Clerk of the 
Courts of Grafton County ; a Eepresentative, Senator, and Councillor. He 
for many years taught the Academy at Haverhill, N. H., and died there. 

Ezekiel Little was born in the West Parish of Haverhill, in 1762; 
graduated at Harvard College, in 178-4 ; taught school in Boston for many 
years ; was author of an arithmetic called The Usher, published at Exeter, 
in 1799 ; and during the latter part of his life resided at Atkinson, where 
he died in 1840, aged seventy-seven years. 

The first couple published in Atkinson were David Clement of Haverhill, 
and Dilley Ladd of Atkinson, in October, 1767. 



° lie was a descemlant of John Cogswell, a merchant of London, who cnnie to Ipswich in 1635, and was 
made a freeman in 1030. On his passage to this country he was wrecked, at Pemcquid, Me. He died 
Novemhcr 29, 1CG9, leaving a wife and seven children. 

t Joseph Cogswell, who died at Tamworth, N. H., in 1851, was the last survivor of this large family 
of children. 

X Itev. Mr. Peabody maiTicd, first, Polly IlascUine, of Bradford, and second, Mrs. Elizabeth, widow of 
Rev. John Shaw, of Haverhill. The latter was sister of the wife of the first President Adams. She mar- 
ried Shaw in 1777, and Peabody in 1795. There is a generally credited tradition, that Mr. Peabody had 
consulted Mrs. Shaw, but a short time before her first husband's death, in regard to his own "lone" con- 
dition, and asked her advice as to the most suitable person to ''share his joys and his sorrows." A par- 
ticular candidate for such a partnership was recommended and agreed to, but before sutlicient t'me had 
elapsed to consult the third party, Mr. Shaw suddeiily died, and, in his ze.al to console the bereaved widow 
Mr. Peabody entirely forgot the claims of the original candidate, and was so soim announced as the 
" happy man," that it was even whispered that the previous decision was revised on the day of the 
funeral. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 319 

Salem was incorporated as a District soon after the State line was run, 
in 1741, and as a Town, in 1750. In our searcli among the papers in the 
State Archives of New Hampshire, we found several interesting documents 
relating to the incorporation of that town. The first is a petition (with- 
out date, but probably 1746,) from thirty-one of the inhabitants of the 
west part of Haverhill District, praying to be set off into a new parish or 
town.--^ Following the above, is a petition from thirty-four of the inhabi- 
tants of the same locality, praying that they may not be set off, as above. 
They say there are sixty or seventy families settled in the district referred 
to ; that they have been to a very great expense in building a meeting- 
house, and settling a minister ; and though they do not object to a new 
toion, they pray not to be disturbed as to their parish concerns.f After 
this comes a petition from fifty-nine of the inhabitants of the Haverhill 
District, praying for the new town, or parish. This evidently turned the 
scale and an act of incorporation was granted soon afterward. 

The first church formed in that part of Salem once belonging to Haver- 
hill, was organized in 1740, and before the State line was run. Eev. 
Abner Bailey was the first minister, and was ordained the same year. He 
died in 1798. 

Policy Pond, which lies partly in Salem and partly in Windham, was 
formerly called " Haverhill Pond." A tract of land granted to Eev. Mr. 
Higginson, by the General Court, in 1715, began "upon said pond," and 
ran south " upon Haverhill Line," 730 poles to a tree " standing in Hav- 
erhill Line." 

° Among the names of the petitioners we noticed those of Thomas, Samuel, Caleb and Obadiah Duston. 
t Among these petitioners were eight by the name of Page, six named Knights, and four named Noycs. 



320 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



CHAPTER XX. 



1742 TO 1765. 



"We liave already noticed, under date of 1734, tte unsuccessful attempt 
of the inhabitants of the easterly part of tlie town to be set off into a sep- 
arate parish. We do not find that a second elffort was made until 1743, 
when they were more fortunate than on the previous occasion, as will be 
seen from the following, which we copy from the original documents in the 
Archives of the State : — 

" To his Excy Wm Shirley Esq. Captain Genl & Govt in Chief over his 
Majesty's provence of the Massachusetts Bay in New Engd. and to the 
honble his i\Iajesty's Council, and to the honble House of Eepresentves in 
Genl Court assembled May 25. A D 1743. 

The petition of Us the Subscribers being Freeholders & Inhabitants of 
the Easterly part of the oldest or first Parish in Haverhill, humbly shew- 
eth — That the Meeting House now standing in said Parish was built in the 
year 1699, & then set suitable to accomodate the whole Town, for then 
the whole Town were but one Parish & about the year 1723 or 4 this Court 
was pleased to set off the Westerly part of the Town of Haverhill with 
divers of the Inhabitants into a Town called Methuen, & about the year 
1730 this Court was pleased to set off a Parish on the Northerly part of 
the Town of Haverhill, & about the year 1734 this Court was pleased to 
set off a parish at the Westerly End of the then remaining or oldest Par- 
ish in Haverhill. 

And now, please your Excy & Hours, the Meeting House now in the 
old Parish stands but a mile at furthest off the West Parish Line, & 
the said Meeting House stands near six miles from the East End of said 
Parish, & we have petitioned to the said Parish for some Ease in this 
affair, & no help can be obtained as your Excy & Hours may plainly see 

by Copies herewith exhibited Therefore your poor Petrs pray that 

this honble Court would appoint a Committee to go & view the whole 
Parish, & make Report to this Court whether it be not just & proper to 
divide the whole Parish into two equal halves or distinct Parishes by 
themselves, & to affix a Line between them, or otherwise to provide for the 
Ease & Eclief of your poor Petrs in the Case as your Excy & Hours shall 



BISTORT OF HAVERHILL. 



321 



in your Wisdom & wonted Goodness think best, so shall your poor dis- 
tressed Petrs ever pray as in duty bound &c. 



\ Nathaniel peaslee, 
Joseph Grele, 
Thos Cottle, 
John George, 
Reuben Currier, 
George Santeler, 
Joseph Tyler, 
Peter Green, 
Nathaniel page, 
Timothy Eaton, 
Moses Eatton, 
Abraham page, 
Samuel Smith, 
Zechariah Hannaford, 
Lewis page, 
Caleb Currier, 
Eobert Hastings Jun, 
Georg Hastings, 
Joseph Kelly Jun, 



John Morrison, 
Green whicher, 
Benjamin Davis, 
Jacob Sanders, 
Humphrey Chas, 
John Chase, 
Eobert Hunkins Jun, 
Thomis Hunkins, 
Ebenezer Colby, 
Eichard Colby, 
Isaac Colby, 
Samuel Ela, 
Israel Ela, 
James Sanders, 
Eobert Hastings, 
Joseph Kelly, 
Ephraim Davis, 
Simeon Brown, 
John Sanders, 



John Sanders, 
James Bradbury, 
Eobert Hunkins, 
Abner Ches, 
Antony Colby, 
Daniel Ela, 
Benjamin page, 
Ezekiel page, 
James holgate, 
William Georg, 
Gideon George, 
Jonathan Tyler, 
Jonathan Tyler Jr, 
Samuel Davis, 
Samuel Davis Junr, 
Jacob Chase, 
John Swett, 
Ebenezer Whittier, 



June 1, 1743, the above petition was read in the House of Eepresenta- 
tives, and the petitioners were ordered to serve the first parish with a copy 
of the petition, " that they may shew cause (if any they have) why the 
prayer thereof should not be granted." 

June 9th, a meeting was called to consider the matter, and Joshua Bay- 
ley and Captain James Pearsons were chosen a committee to make answer 
to the General Court in behalf of "the old parish." The following is 
their answer : — 

" To His Excellency William Shirley Esqr Governor and Commander 
in Chief in and over His Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in 
New England : And to the Honorble His Majesties Council and Honorble 
House of Eepresentatives in Generall Court assembled at Boston June ye 
14th 1743.— 

The Answer of the first or Oldest Parish in' the Town of Haverhill, to 
the Petition of the Inhabitants of the Easterly part of said Parish, hum- 
bly sheweth. — 

That we dont pretend to deny but that the Meeting House in said Parish 
was erected in ye year 1699, and was then Suitable to accomodate the 
whole Inhabitants who were Settled, tho it was by no means near the cen- 
ter of the Town : We are also ready to own that a great part of Methuen 
was taken out of the Westerly Part of Haverhill, in ye year 1724. — 
41 



352 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL' 

That in the year 1730 an other Parish was set off hy the name of thd 
North Parish, And in the year 1734, an other Parish -was set off by the 
name of the AVest Parish, the said Parishes being north and west of our 
Meeting house. 

But that they have petitioned the Parish for ease in the affair and could 
obtain no help we absolutely deny, for that it may please your Excellency 
and Honours they were at their requesls in the year 1734 set off into a 
distinct and Separate Parish by a vote of the Parish & a line aflSxt be- 
tween us as they desired, but many of the Inhabitants on the Easterly side 
of that line being against being a Parish. "When the others petitioned 
this Great & Honourable Court to be vested with the powers and privi- 
ledges of a Parish it was denyed them, & they were turned back to the 
old Parish againe. 

We would farther humbly suggest to your Excellency and Honours that 
such persons who live in the Easterly part of the Parish & have made 
proper application, have been eased of their Burthen & charge. 

We your Eespondents begg leave further to add that in the month of May 
last there was a vote passed to divide ye Parish, and a line was fixt which 
we hoped might make a peace in the Parish (tho at the same time we are 
humbly of opinion that the whole Parish will make but Two verry lean 
Parishes when divided) & we set off all such persons and their estates who 
ware desirous to go to the new proposed Parish, Except two or three men- 
tioned below, all tenants but one, but we could not but think it a verry 
great hardship to force any from us who were desirous to tarry with us, 
more espetially if they must go farther to the new Meeting-house then to 
come to the Old One, and we are yet Humbly of the same Opinion & think 
they had no ground for such complaint. May it please your Excellencies 
and Honours, it appears to us that we have been tenderly thoughtful in 
what we have done relating to a divisional line, having set off near one 
half of the Land & near Sixty Families, yea all that have desired it ex- 
cept two or three men which by our own Act may go with their estates to 
the new Parish if they please. 

Upon the whole we hope that your Excellencies & Honours will not 
think it needful to send up a Comittee or to force any from the Old Parish 
that cannot be willing to be parted from it. 

We beg that your Excellencies and Honours will be pleased to have a 
tender regard to the Old Parish that was once the Center of a verry large 
Town is now become (by the loss of almost all Methuen & three separate 
Parishes) to be ven-y small. We would further observe to your Excellencies 
& Honours that altho the Easterly part of old Parish was set off in the year 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 323 

1734 & a line fixt nearer to tlie old Meeting House than tlie dividing line 
fixb in May last, which was occationed by the West Parish (not then set 
off) Joyning with the Eastermost part of the said old Paiish& affixed the 
line whore they pleased which had not been done had the West Parish 
been set off first. On the whole we humbly begg that your Excellencies 
& Houoars will be pleased to do that for us which in your great wisdome 
shall be thought best for us, and your humble Kespondents as in duty 
bound shall ever pray &c. 

Joshua Bayley \ Committee for & behalf of the 
James Pearson j old Parish in Haverhill." 

June lith, these petitions were read in the House of Representatives, 
and in Council, and a committee was appointed to visit Haverhill, view 
the parish, hear the parties, and report. 

September 9 th, the committee reported in favor of the petitioners for 
the new parish, and it was accordingly set off. The dividing line was the 
same as the present 

The town having been divided into parishes, a proposition was made to 
divide the parsonage lands among them, but it was not agreed to. 

The following interesting paragraphs, relating to the easterly part of the 
town, we copy from Mirick : — 

" The house of Dr. H. Brown, at Holt's Rocks, was destroyed by fire 
on the 22d of January (174:3), and his daughter, aged 23 years, and a 
young man who was then living with him, a son of D. Currier, were burnt 
to death. Their remains were interred in a field, now overgrown with 
trees, owned by John Johnson Esq., and grave-stones erected to their 
memory. But they are thrown down and so broken and defaced, that the 
letters are nearly illegible. With the assistance of Mr. Johnson, we found 
them, lying flat on the ground, and nearly concealed from view. It is a 
very romantic situation, on the side of a hill covered with young sycamores, 
and which slopes gently until it reaches the Merrimack. This gentleman 
also informs us that other persons, principally infants, were buried in the 
same place; but no monuments were erected to their memory, and 
the mounds have totally disappeared. 

The little village at the Rocks, increased very slowly. We were in- 
formed by Mr. Phineas Nichols, a venerable gentleman, 94 years of age, 
that there were but four houses in 1750, and that he could distinctly re- 
member them. They were owned and occupied by Dr. Brown, John Swctt, 
Joseph Burrill, and Mr. Nichols's father. Dr. Brown moved to Fryburg, 
Maine, soon after," 



324 HISTORY OT HAVERHILt. 

From the proprietor's records, of November 21, 1743, we learn that Ed- 
ward riynt had leave granted him " to finish a vessel he had put up on the 
banks of the river near his house," and also to put up any others during 
the proprietors' pleasure. This is the first mention we find of ship-build- 
ing since the petition of Springer, ten years before. 

From the same records, we learn that John Ayer had recently built a 
" tan-house," on land given him by the proprietors for that purpose, " in 
the rear of his father's garden,"" and had also built a bridge across the 
Btream near it. In consideration that he would forever keep the bridge 
in repair, the proprietors granted him the piece of land west of his tan- 
house. 

By a vote of the town, the parsonage land was, in 1744, divided into 
lots. A highway, two and a half rods wide, was laid out through the 
lots " to near the mouth of Little Eiver, and over said river." The ex- 
pense of the bridges was to come out of the sale of the lots. This high- 
way was that now called Merrimack Street. The lots were laid out on the 
north side of it, and numbered from east to west, the lot cornering on 
Merrimack and Main Streets (known these many years as " "White's Cor- 
ner,") being " Lot Number One." 

The width of the highway through these lots forms a striking contrast 
to that of the road from Sanders' Hill to the Men-imack above Holt's 
Eocks, which was laid out among the first in the town. The latter was 
twelve rods wide. This extreme width, however, became in time the cause 
of a deal of trouble to the town, and about the time of which we now 
write, the " twelve rod way" was almost continually before the town meet- 
ings. It was finally (1754) narrowed down to four rods in width, and the 
surplus, amounting to nineteen acres and eighty-two rods, sold to various 
persons along the line of the road. 

The setting up of ship-builders in town seems to have been followed, as 
a matter of course, by the establishment of more blacksmiths. Thus we 
find that, soon after Springer was allowed to set up the business, in 1733, 
John Gage petitioned the proprietors for liberty to set a blacksmith's shop 
near the river, — which was granted ; and no sooner had Flynt received 
permission to establish a ship-yard, than Edmund Greenleaf applied for 
liberty to set up a blacksmith's shop near the same, — which was also 
granted. 

Having erected a mccting-house, and settled a minister, the East Parish 
immediately applied to the town for some land for a parsonage, which was 

* Near the west end of Ayer's (now Plug) Pond. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 325 

granted the following spring (1745). The land thus laid out to them 
was valued at " £1200 old tenor." 

Thomas Cottle petitioned the town, in 1745, for liberty to establish a 
ferry near his house ; and as he represented that the ferry might " be sar- 
vicable to the town and other travailers," and offered to ferry the town's 
people one-fourth cheaper than strangers, his petition was granted. This 
made the number of ferries across the Merrimack at that time, between the 
village and Holt's Eocks, no less than five, viz. : — Swett's, at Holt's 
Eocks ; Cottle's at the mouth of East Meadow Eiver (Cottle's Creek) ; 
Pattee's, near the present house of David Nichols ; Mulikin's, where the 
chain ferry now is, and Griffin's, nearly opposite the foot of the present 
Lindell Street, at the village. 

In 1746, the town voted to exempt the first, or "old" parish, from 
paying anything for any other school in town, provided they would keep a 
grammar school constantly in their own parish, at their own expense. 

At this period, the rates, or taxes, were made out in "lists," and placed 
in the hands of collectors, who were usually constables." As each man 
paid, his name was checked, and sometimes, (if he was particular to re- 
quire it) he also received the collector's written receipt. The amount on 
each collector's book, or list, was charged to him, and he was obliged to 
pay the whole amount into the treasury, within a reasonable time, whether 
he had collected it or not. The only way in which he could dispose of a 
hard customer's tax, was, either to collect it in some way, or pay it out of 
his own pocket, or induce the town, by a special vote, to "forgive" him 
the amount. At first, the collectors were not allowed any pay whatever 
for their services ; and it was not until 1780 that a regular commission 
was given them. It was then voted to allow them a " Poundage of Four 
Pence on Twenty Shillings." 

That the office was no sinecure, is seen from the fact that for more than a 
hundred years the town's rule was, that if a man was chosen constable, he 
must either "stand," procure a substitute acceptable to the town, or pay 
a fine of five pounds, unless he was " excused," which was not common. 
We could probably fill an entire page with the names of those who took 
the last-named horn of the dilemma. 

After the town was divided into parishes, each parish collected its own 
minister tax, in its own way. The First Parish frequently collected its 
minister tax in the following manner : — A contribution, as it was called, 

" For many years there was only one constable, or collector, in the town. Afterward, two were chosen 
— rone for the portion east of the Little Eiver, the other for that on the west. Still later, one was chosen 
for each Parish. 



826 HISTORY OV HAVERHILL. 

was taken every Sabbath afternoon, when any person wbowislied to pay 
his tax in this manner, had liberty to pay such a sum as he pleased. Each 
person was ordered to fold his money in a paper, and write his name and 
the amount within. A person was yearly appointed to receive these mon- 
ies, and pass the amount to the credit of the name within written. If no 
name was written within the paper, it was considered as a free gift to the 
minister, and was disposed of as such. In the early days of the Colony, 
the contribution was usually made by each going up to the " Deacons' 
seat," and depositing his offering. The magistrates and the chief men led 
off, and the others followed in order, down to the youngest, and the hum- 
blest. This custom declined about 1G65. 

The following brief list of names of persons residing in this town, in 
1747, with the trade or occupation of each, is compiled from various papers 
in the State Archives, and is not without interest. We introduce it, as 
we introduce many other lists of names, principally for the purpose of 
aiding those who may be interested in tracing the genealogy and history 
of families : — 

James Pecker, an a Potacary, Jonathan "Webster, Hatter, 

Edmond Mors, a Shoomaker or Cord- Andrew Frink, Shipwrite, 

winder, Nathaniel Knolton, Tayler, 

Daniel Appleton, Joyner, Mr Trask, Brick-Layer, 

James Parson, Husbandman. Ebenezer Hale, Cordwinder, 

John Byenton, Black Smith, William Hancock, farmer, 

grant Webster, Marchant, 

The year 1748, was another year of trouble in our town affairs, as will 
be seen from the array of documents which follow. 

At the annual meeting, March 1st, Nathaniel Peaslee was declared 
chosen moderator, whereupon Samuel White and fifteen others, protested 
against his oflSciating, on the ground that "he was not chosen according 
to Law." After vainly attempting to have the proceedings conducted 
"according to law," the disaffected retired from the meeting, and those 
who remained proceeded to choose the other officers, and transact the other 
business of the town. 

The "bolters " did not, however, rest quietly under the new adminis- 
tration, but immediately petitioned the General Court, in substance, as 
follows : — ' 

The meeting of March 1 st was called to order by Nathaniel Peaslee, 
one of the selectmen for the previous year, who ordered votes to be brought 

o Tha petition ii dated March 3d, 1748, and aigned by fifty-nin* of th« inkabitaaU. 



HiSTORt OF HAVERHILt. 



S27 



in for a moderator, and was himself elected, or chosen, by a majority of 
two votes. The petitioners claimed that several votes were cast illegally, 
and more than seven of them at the time " requested that the vote might 
be decided by the Poll, but the Moderator refused to allow it," and de- 
clared that the law of deciding votes by the Poll did not take place till 
after a moderator was chosen. The petitioners claimed that persons were 
allowed to vote at the meeting who were not qualified by law — were not 
" Inhabitants nor Treeholders in said Town of Haverhill, nor even in the 
Province of Massachusetts Bay, but in New Hampshire," and that the votes 
of some who were qualified were refused. The petitioners therefore prayed 
that some one might be appointed by the Court to look into the matter. 
The following are the names of the petitioners : — 

Henry Springer, Edward Flint, John Cogswell, 

Joseph Badger, James Pecker, Jacob Sanders, 

Nathaniel Walker, Nathaniel Johnson, John Sanders, 

Abner Kimball, Eichard Harriman, Nathll Sanders, 

Stephen Huse, 

Stephen Harriman, 

Joshua Sawyer, 

Eichd Hazzen, 

James Chase, 

Nathaniel Eolfe, 

Nathll Balch, 

Andrew frink, 

Peter Ayer, 

Jacob Ayer, 

Ithamor Emerson, 

Simon Ayer, 

Samuel Hasaltine, 

Joshua Page, 

John Gage, 

Moses Clements, 

From a certificate attached to the petition, it appears that the petition- 
ers held a meeting, and chose John Sanders and Peter Ayer to present their 
petition to the General Court. 

Accompanying the petition, they sent fourteen depositions, signed by 
twenty-eight of the other inhabitants of the town, in further support of 
their charges. 

Other reasons for declaring the doings of the meeting of March 1st 
illegal are contained in a deposition of Joshua Sawyer, and others, under 
date of September 17, 1748, of which the following is an extract : — 

" There was not any List of Valuation Eead nor any List of Non 
Voters nor any Wrighting of what name or nature Soever by which the 



Eichard Emerson, 
Abraham Kimball, 
John Pecker, 
James McHard, 
"Will hancock, 
Grant Webtser, 
John Sawyer, 
Samuel White, 
Benja Gale, 
Joseph Patten, 
Samll Appleton, 
Samll White Jun, 
Edmd Mooers, 
Daniel Appleton, 
John Smylie, 
Samuel Johnson, 



Samuel Ayer, 
Thomas Haynes, 
John Hinkley, 
David Ajer, 
Nathaniel Knowlton, 
Ebenezar Buck, 
Jonathan Simones, 
Daniel Davies, 
Edmund Greenleaf, 
Symonds Greenough, 
William Greenleaf, 
Ebenezer Hale, 
Nathan Haseltine, 
Jonathan Webster, 
Andrew Mitchel. 



328 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 



Selectmen did Pretend to Shew who was qualified by Law to Vote in Town 
affairs nor who was not qualified to vote in Town affairs until after the 
second time of Voting for the Moderator nor until some Considerable time 
after Mr Nathaniel Peasle Had taken the Seat of and Officiated as Mod- 
erator by Calling to the People to Bring in their Votes." 

To the above mentioned petition, the selectmen of 1747 and 1748, and 
others of the inhabitants, made reply in substance, as follows : — 

The petition of Sanders and others contained false and abusive asser- 
tions ; the petitioners were a number of uneasy persons, the greater part 
of whom came lately from other towns to reside among them, and were 
continually stirring up contentions in the town ; that lately many of them 
were engaged in a vile riot in town, for which some of them were to appear 
before the Hon. Judge Berry, at Ipswich, on the day of the annual meet- 
ing, had they not agreed with the man whom they had chiefly abused, 
for a considerable sum of money ; that they took advantage of the great 
depth of snow, and consequent inability of those living in the remote 
parts of the town from coming to the meeting, to gain some advantage to 
themselves ; that John Sanders was greatly prejudiced against moderator 
Peaslee, because the latter had exposed and prevented the former from 
obtaining more money from the Province than belonged to him, by a false 
account ; the moderator was duly and legaly chosen, and had the Kev. 
Mr. Barnard open the meeting with prayer ; and many of the petitioners 
were not qualified to vote, and some were not even residents of the town. 

The petition is dated March 28, 1748, and 'signed by 
John Ladd, ") Selectmen 



Jonathan Marsh, 
Thomas Dustin, 
Barachias Farnham, 

Eeuben Currier, 
Amos Peaslee, 
Joseph Grele, 
Thomas Eatton, 
Joseph Haseltine, 
Nathaniel Chase, 
Daniel Lad Jun, \J 
Joseph Merrill, 
Eichard Bayley,^/ 
Daniel Johnson, 
Siimuel AVebster, 
John Gorge, 
Samuel AVhiticker, 
David AVhiticker, 



for ye yr 

A Dom 

1747 



John Ladd, 
Thomas Johnson, 
William Ayer, 



Selectmen 

for the 

Year A Dom 

1748 



Wm mitchel, 
Jona mitchel, 
William George, 
Daniel Ela, 
Lewis Page, 
John Eatton, Town 
Samuel Guild, 
Thos Cottle, 
moses Davis, 
Joseph Tyler, 
George Hastings 
James Pike, 
Samuel Peaslee, 
Ezra Chase, 



Ebenezer Colby, 
John Chase, 
Humphrey Chase, 
Israel Ela, 
Joseph Whittier, 
Clerk James Gild, 

Abraham Page, 
Gideon George, 
Jacob Ela, 
Ephraim Marsh, 
John Haseltine, 
Jonathan Haynes, 
Edward Carleton, 
Stephen Webster Jun, 



BISTOUT OP HAVERHILt. 



329 



Joseph Hutchins, 
Jeremiah Bayley, 
Timothy Emerson, 
Ebenezer Bayley, 
Thomas Page, 
John Emerson, 
Amos Bayley, 
Jonathan Emerson Jun, 
James Haseltine, 
John marbel, 



Stephen "Whiticker, 
Edward ordway, 
Micah Emrson, 
Samuel Emerson, 
Kehemiah Bradly, 
Jonathan Emerson, 
James Eatton, 
Daniel Meerie, 
Jonathan Marhle, 
Nathaniel Webster, 



Cornelius Johnson, 
Saml Shepard, 
James holgatc, 
Ebenczr "Whittier, 
John Green, 
Eobart Hunkin jr, 
John morrison, 
benjamin greely, 
Peter Green, — — 
Maverick Johnson, 



John Edwards, 
Joseph Kelly, 
James Sanders, 
Eobart Hunkins, 
Samuel Ela, 
Timothy Eatton, 
Phillip Haseltine, 
John Smith, 
Nathan Webster, 



Nathll Clement, 
Thomas Corlis, 
Joseph Dow, 
Joseph Kelley Jr, 
Samuel Davis Jr, 
Moses Eatton, 
Samuel Gage, 
John Corlis Ju, 
Moses Hazzen. 



Under date of March 29th, 1748, we find a petition signed by twenty- 
seven of the " freeholders & inhabitants," who therein declare that they 
were not present at the annual meeting, on account of the great depth of 
snow, but had heard of the proceedings, and praj-cd that the petition 
of Sanders, and others, be not granted. The following names are attached 
to this petition : — 

Jonathan Duston Ju, 
John Corlis, 
Joseph Bradley, 
Benjamin Clement, 
Joseph Emerson, 
William Johnson, 
Samuel Clements, 
Daniel Lad, 
Thomas Bayley, 

The committee to whom these several petitions were referred, re- 
ported " that the town meeting held on the first day of March be sett 
a side, & that the selectmen for the year 1747 grant a new Warrant 
for the Choice of all ordinary Town oflScers that Towns by Law are Ena* 
bled to choose ; " the meeting to be held sometime in April. The report 
was accepted. 

A town meeting was accordingly convened, on the 26th of April, at 
which the officers chosen March 1st, were all re-chosen, except, that 
Thomas Duston was chosen a selectman in the place of Moses Clement. 
This was not, however, in the opinion of " John Pecker and others," done 
" according to law," and they promptly " dissented." 

Soon after, (May 25, 1748,) Richard Saltonstall, and forty -one others, 
presented a memorial to the General Court, in which they set forth that 
" the afi^airs of the second meeting were conducted with more wickedness 
partiality and premeditated corruption than the first;" that the select- 
men, (who were also assessors) "to cure their great Neglect in not 
Valueing the Estates and faculties of the Inhabitants," had, after their 
42 



830 



HISTORY OF HAVERmit. 



term of office had expired, made a pretended valuation, by -wLich they 
disqualified some pf the opposite party, and admitted others who were 
clearl}' not entitled to vote, — all for the purpose of carrying their own 
points in governing the choice of officers; that the cause of all the un- 
easiness among the inhabitants, was the belief that the selectmen, or seme 
of tlicra, had combined with the Town Treasurer, (who was also Town 
Clerk) "to Imbezell large sums of the publick money & apply it to their 
own use." They therefore prayed for a new meeting, to be presided over 
by a disinterested moderator, and that the transactions of the last meeting 
be set aside. 

The following names are attached to the memorial : — 



Eicha Saltonstall, 
Joshua Baylcy, 
John Pecker, 
John Sunders, 
Kathll Sanders, 
John Aver, 
Jonathan Simonds, 
Joseph Patten, 
Piichd Hazzcn, 
Nathcl Balch, 
Jas Pecker, 
Wm Brady, 
Simon Ayer, 
Abraham Kimball, 



T\'ill hancock, 
Joshua Page, 
Jacob Sanders, 
Jno AVhite, 
Samll Appleton, 
Bcnja Gale, 
Edmund Greenleaf, 
Edmund j\Jooers, 
Nathaniel Walker, 
Jacob Aycr, 
Nathaniel Bolfe, 
Jonathan Webster, 
James McHard, 
Samuel White, 



Eichard Emerson, 
Grant Webster, 
Peter Ayer, 
Joseph Badger, 
Ithamar Emerson, 
Nathaniel Knowlton, 
Andrew fiiuk, 
John Boynton, 
Stephen Huse, 
Moses Clements, 
Ebenezer Hale, 
John Smylie, 
Nathan hesscltine. 



The General Court ordered the petitioners to serve the selectmen and 
moderator with a copy of their petition, and June 15th was assigned for 
a hearing of the pai-ties.'-'^ On account of the sickness " of divers of the 
principal persons," who subscribed the last mentioned petition, the hearing 
was postponed to the next day, when a committee was appointed " to hear 
the parties who are now in Town," and report.f The consideration was, 
however, again postponed to September, when the committee repcitod that 
the proceedings of the second meeting be set aside and declared null and 



o The Selectmen in their response to the General Court, on the memorial of Siiltonstall, and others, 
deny any attempt nt partiality in accepting or rcl'using votes ; leave the Town Treasurer to vindicate 
h'msilf; dci-larc that all their oT\n transactions in town aflaivs arc open for the to'nn to examine; and 
close by declaring the memorial false and vexatious. 

t AVe find a paper, dated Boston, June 17, 17-18, and signed by the Selectmen on the one part, and 
Nathiiniel Satu'ers and Joseph Patten for the niimorialists on the other part, agreeing for peace on the 
following conditions : 

The numi>rialists arc to drop their petition on condition that n, new town meeting be held, and that a 
disinterested committee be chosni to settle with the Town Treasurer, on which committee no selectman or 
member 0/ a former committee should be placed. 



1 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 831 

void, and a new meeting be called ; and as no valuation bad been taken 
the present year, " according to Law," that the valuation of 1747 be the 
rule for regulating the votes. The Court adopted the report, and appointed 
John Choate, Esq., to be moderator of the meeting. 

Accordingly, a meeting was holdcn on the 22d of Xovember, vrhcn Mr. 
Choate" presided, and the same persons were for the third time clioscn toun 
officers ! But this time they were chosen " according to Law " ! 

A proposition was made this year, but negatived, to build a school-house 
in each parish. From this it would appear probable that the only school- 
house then in town, was that in the village ; although, as we have seen, 
the town had long before (1723) voted to build several others. This 
supposition is strengthened by the fact that the next spring it was voted to 
" sell the old school house." 

From an answer of the "Proprietors of the Common Lands" to the 
General Court, we learn that at this time (1748) a " Common Right " was 
worth only three pounds, Old Tenor, and they were ready to sell at that 
price. They say that when the old grants are all made good, they " dont 
think one penny will fall to the Proprietors."! 

During the French and English War of 1744-48, a number of Haver- 
hill men were in active service. Several were at the taking of Louisburg, 
in 1745, but as the muster rolls of that expedition omit the place of resi- 
dence, or enlistment, of the men engaged in it, we are unable to give their 
names. Oq the renewal of hostilities by the Eastern Indians, who, as 
before, were found siding with the French, the provincial government sent 
a large number of troops to the eastern country, among whom were several 
Haverhill men. Of those stationed at Scarborough, in 1748, were nine 
from this town. J Four of them continued in that service until the peace, 
in the following year. 

At the annual town meeting, for 1749, a proposition was made to hold 
the town meetings one half of the time in the West Parish, and the other 
half in the East Parish, — but it was promptly voted down. 

o Mr. Choate was a member of the General Court, from Ipswich. 

t Peter Aver wa9 an original iiroprietor. or owner, of two Common Rights, which descended to his five 
daughters. One of his daughters divided lier proportion among her own four daughters.. 

J Obadiah Perry, Corp., Thomis Stone, cD.niicI Silver, 

Thorn IS Wcscorab, CE],pnrzcr Brown, Halt Williams, 

"Job Gage, ''Oliver Scales, Jonathan Hwilon. Sp.nlinrls. 

Those served from April 3 to November 30, ITIS. Those designated by a " contiuued in the service 
until August 8, 1749. 



832 HISTORY OP HATERHItli. 

From the proprietors' records of March Gth, we make the following 
extract : — 

"In answer to ye petition of sundry of ye Inhabitants of ye Town of 
Haverhill, (' to yc proprietors of Common & undivided lands in ye Town 
of Haverhill & yt part of Methuen which was formerly a part of sd 
Town of Haverhill ; together with yt part of Haverhill which fulls within 
ye province of new hampshire, & commonly called Haverhill District ' ) 

" ye sd proprietors agreed & voted yt all their Eight proprtec & Inter- 
est yt they have in the land lying betwixt ye head of ye lotts 6z merrimack 
Elver from Capt John Pecker's wharfe down to ye plaine gate so called 
(Excepting a road all along bj ye head of ye lotts so wide as ye Town 
shall think proper) be & hereby is given, granted & appropriated to ye 
use & benefit of said town within ye Massachusetts, To be Disposed off 
as the said Town shall see Cause ; with this proviso ; that the said Town 
do Disalow & Discontinue the said road laid out by the selectmen from 
Kent's lott down to ye plain gate on Februay 11. 1724-5 r 
this above voted in the affirmative 

Moses Hazzen Entered his Discnt against giveing or selling of any land 
from Richard Saltonstall's Esqr Down to the plaine gate. 

Edward Flint Entered his Discnt against Disposeiiig of any of ye way 
or land before mentioned." 

Pecker's wharf was near the mouth of Mill Brook ; and the Plain Gate, 
as near as we can judge, was near the present house of Eev. Mr. Kecly. 

The summer of 1749 was remarkable, on account of a very severe 
drought. This was attended with swarms of caterpillars, and other de- 
vouring insects, and caused great distress in Xew England. The heat and 
dryness was so severe, that the ground cracked in many places, and where 
pieces of broken glass lay on the surface, it caught fire. Not more than 
a tenth of the usual crop of hay was cut ; and much was imported from 
Pennsylvania, and even from England. June 9th was observed as a gen- 
eral Fast on account of the drought ; and August 14th as a day of 
Thanksgiving for a plentiful rain. ' 

From the time of the settlement of the difiicultics between the proprie- 
tors and the non-proprietors of the common and undivided lands, (in 
1724) down to, and including 1751, the former were largely occupied in 
disposing of their remaining lands. The lands in the extreme northwest 
part of the town, known as the "fifth division," and the tract north of the 
village, known as the "Cow Common," were the last large bodies of land 

• E«T. Ur. Frendu'* Ma. 



mSTOKY OF HAVERHILL. 

to be disposed of. The remainder were in detached pieces, scattered here 
and there about the town, many of them quite small. In 1739, forty' 
seven such parcels were disposed of, many of them being given to parties 
applying for them, whether they chanced to be proprietors or otherwise. 

Among the last lands to be disposed of, was the strip lying between what 
is now called Water Street and the river, and extending from the .present 
bridge to Mill Brook. A few small lots of this had been previously dis- 
posed of, but most of it yet belonged to the proprietors, until the year 
1751, when there seems to have been quite a rush for lots " to build a 
wharf." Enoch Bartlett led off with a petition for land enough to build 
a wharf fifty feet long " against the house of Joshua Bayley Esq." (This 
was the first lot below the present bridge.) Joseph Greelee followed, ask- 
ing for a lot for the same purpose " between Richard Hazzen's grant and 
Capt Eastman's wharfe." Then came John Sawyer for a small piece 
"between Capt Pecker's or White's wharf and ye ferry place." (Pecker's 
wharf was near the easterly end of the street.) After him, Symond 
Greenouch made application for a piece " against his dwelling house." 
Then came Nathaniel Cogswell, for three rods wide " on ye south of his 
house; " Abner Kimball, for a lot " between Capt Pecker's and ye ferry 
place ; " Nathaniel Peaslee, for one " near Capt Eastman's wharf; " Sam- 
uel Blodgett, for one near the same place ; and last, but not the least, 
Eeubcn Currier desired one in the same favorite locality. These applica- 
tions were all for land and liberty " to build a wharf," and they were all 
granted ; though, from the fact that Thomas Haynes, Ebenezer Carleton, 
and Nathan AVcbstcr " dissented, and forbid the granting or selling of 
any more land on the river," it 'appears that some of the proprietors 
thought these eligible lots were being disposed of altogether too freely. 

Besides these grants of land for wharves, some of the lots were also 
disposed of to John Watts, Deacon James Ayer, and others, for building 
purposes ; and Kichard Hazzen had given him a lot on the river, below 
Mill Brook, for a " building yard." His bound commenced " on the road, 
four rods east of Mill Bridge, and thence four rods east," and extending 
to the river. Hazzen was at this time a resident of Hampstead, but from 
the above, it would seem that he was about to engage in ship-building in 
this town. 

Jonathan Buck, at the same time, petitioned for "a ship yard near the 
burying place," but was refused. Buck was afterward (1759) granted 
all the rights and privileges the proprietors had in the Mill Brook, " below 
the Great Eoad." Buck then owned the land on the west side of the 
brook, and a Mr. Morley owned that on the east side. The former soon 



334 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

after removed to Maine, and was one of the founders of tte town of Bucks- 
port, where he has descendants still living. Mr. Buck lived, while in this 
town, in the gambrel-roofed house nearly opposite the residence of Deacon 
Samuel Chase, on Water Street, and which was afterward occupied by his 
eon, who was quite a famous hunter. 

The above facts, taken in connection with those already given in rela- 
tion to the building of vessels, clearly indicate the date when the first 
considerable attention was given to commerce by the inhabitants of the 
town. From this time, until the breaking out of the Ecvolution, this 
branch of business rapidly increased, until Haverhill became one of the 
most important and extensive interior commercial towns in the State. 

The subject of schools in the parishes was again brought to the attention 
of the town this year, (1751) and it was finally voted that a grammar 
school should be kept in each parish four months in the year. Probably 
one of the most effective reminders of their duty in this direction, just at 
this time, was the intimation of a summons to appear at Salem Court and 
answer to a " presentment " for not being provided with a" grammer school 
master." The above vote did not, however, save them from the latter, as 
we find that the next spring Nathaniel Peaslee, Esq., was chosen to appear 
and answer such a presentment against the town. 

In 1752, the inhabitants of the town were greatly alarmed by the ap- 
pearance of the small-pox in the neighboring towns, and John Cogswell 
and Samuel White were appointed to assist the selectmen to use every 
method to prevent its entrance into the^ town. A set of constables were 
also chosen to serve such wan-ants as should be issued for that purpose. 
When we consider that, although this loathsome disease is now much bet- 
ter understood, and far less fatal than formerly, the people of the present 
day are yet always greatly excited and alarmed at its approach, we need 
not be surprised that our ancestors took the most vigorous measures to 
protect themselves from infection. But notwithstanding their precautions, 
the disease at length found its way into the town, and in 1755-6, several 
persons died with it."^ 

Before closing our notice of the year 1752, we ought, perhaps, to refer 
to the change in computing time which was made this year, and which 
originated th'e terms " Old Style " and "New Style." 

When this country was first settled, the usual manner of writing dates 
was by numbering the months. March was the first month, and the 25th 
of March, being Lady Day, or Annunciation of the Church, was the first 



o The disease again made its appearance in 1757, when we find that the house of Timothy Eaton was 
med as a " pest bouM." 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



836 



day of the year. Subsequently, the practice of numherlng the months was 
discontinued, but, until 1752, the year still commenced with the 25th of 
March. In 1751, the British Parliament, by statute, provided that the 
then next first day of January should be reckoned to be the first day of 
the year 1752, and that the day following the second of September, 1752, 
should be called the fourteenth, thus omitting eleven intermediate nominal 
days. By that act, bissextile, or leap-years, are established every fourth 
year, excepting each hundredth year, and of each hundredth year every 
fourth is to be a leap-year, of three hundred and sixty-six days, commenc- 
ing with the year 2000. 

The manner of computing time, (to 1751) commonly called the Julian 
Calendar, had been in use from the time of the general Council of Nice, 
A. D. 325. By the Julian Calendar every fourth year was a leap-year of 
three hundred and sixty-six days, which calendar was discovered to be 
erroneous, as the spring equinox, which at the time of the Council of Nice, 
in 325, happened on or about the 21st of March, did happen in 1751, 
about the 9th or 10th of the same month ; hence the necessity of omitting 
the eleven nominal days in September. 1752. 

The correction of the calendar, made by Pope Gregory XIII, in 1582, 
was immediately adopted in all Catholic countries, although not established 
in England until 1752. From the latter cause arose the custom of indica- 
ting the change by the use of double dates between the first of January 
and the t^oenty -fifth of March in each year, thus, — January 1, 1751-2. 
• A striking omission in the town records of the time of which we write, 
is found in the fact that, from the year 1729 to 1770, no mention is made 
of the election of Eepresentatives to the General Court, although it is an 
indisputable fact that such were regularly chosen. The records frequently 
refer to them, but never to their election. 

In 1753, a tax was laid by the government on coaches, chariots, chaises, 
calashes, and riding chairs. "We presume the following table, giving the 
number of each in this town, as officially returned, will not prove unin- 
teresting : — 





Coaches, 


Chariots, 


Chaises, 


Calashes, 


Biding Chairs, 


1753 








1 


7 





1754 








1 


9 





1755 











18 





1756 











13 





1757 











15 


















836 HISTORY OF HAVERHILIft 

Probably wc cannot give a more truthful, as well as vivid idea of the 
general stjic, and appearance of the ordinary "calash," which was almost 
the only light, or pleasure carriage, in the town one hundred years ago, 
than by comparing it to a very clumsy old fashioned wagon-seat, set upon 
an equally clumsy pair of low wagon-wheels, with shafts attached. Those 
impromptu affairs that we now occasionally see, are a decided improve- 
ment over those of "a hundred years ago," in every respect, — except, 
perhaps, a platform for the feet to rest upon. 

Chaises, of which there was a solitary one in town at this time, were 
those large and heavy wheeled, square-topped vehicles, of which the " old- 
est inhabitant " has, perhaps an indistinct recollection. . They were in the 
possession of only a few of the " most respectable " and wealthy people, 
and were only made use of to ride to meeting on the Sabbath, and on great 
and important occasions. 

Mr. Nathan Webster, now living, remembers (about 1796) when there 
were but two in all the West Parish. These were owned by the two Dea- 
cons of the church — Deacon Moses Webster and Deacon Eaton. 

Soon afterward, the minister, Eev. Mr. Adams, purchased one. At that 
time, the most common, and indeed the almost universal mode of travel- 
ling, was on horseback. Thus the farmer rode to mill, or "to town," on a 
week-day ; and, on the Sabbath, with his good wife on the pillion behind 
him, — and perhaps a child in the arms of each, — he leisurely and sob- 
erly jogged to meeting on his faithful and steady "Old Dobbin." The 
women rode on horseback to the village, to do their " trading." Mr. 
Webster remembers counting " twenty-four in one troop" as they were 
thus riding by his father's house, on their way to town, — " chattering like 
a flock of blackbirds ! " 

Wagons were unknown until about 1800, or later. In that year, Eobert 
Hamilton, of Conway, Mass., built a one-horse wagon, and claimed it to 
be the first one in America, and himself the inventor. As late as 1810, 
such carriages were nowise common, swid it was not until about 1820 that 
they came into general use. 

The first carriage said to be built in America, was made in Dorchester, 
Mass., by a man named White, for a private gentleman in Boston. It 
was copied from an English chariot, though made much lighter. But on 
account of the difficulty of procuring material, and high wages, they were 
long afterward ordered from England and France. 

In 1754, the town for the first time voted to raise a specific amount of 
money for the repair of the highways. The sum fixed upon was one 
hundred pounds. Two shillings a day were allowed fot a man, and the 



HISTORY OF HATEEHILL. 337 

same for oxen " with a good cart or plow," or eighteen pence for oxen 
alone. The apparent difference between these prices and those previously 
voted to be paid, is explained by the fact of a change in the kind of cur- 
rency most in use at these several periods. 

At the same time, a similar proposition was made in regard to school 
money, but it was rejected. The next year, however, the proposition was 
renewed, and this time it was carried. Fifty pounds were appropriated 
for the support of the schools the current year ; and it was voted to allow 
the parishes their proportion of the school money. 

From and after this time, except the years 1761 to 1764, inclusive, the 
school in the First Parish was kept all the year round. Previous to 1761, 
it was termed a " Grammer School." In 1765, it was called an " English 
School," and " only Peading, Writing, & Cyphering," were taught in it. 

The summer of 1755, was one of "excessive heat and drought;" in 
consequence of which there was a great scarcity of hay and provisions, 
and prices were very high. So serious was the condition of things, that 
a Fast was ordered by the General Court. Happily, refreshing rains soon 
followed, and the autumn harvest was unexpectedly productive. 

On the 18th of November, of the same year, occurred the most violent 
earthquake ever known in North America. "It continued about four and 
a half minutes. In Boston, about one hundred chimnies were levelled with 
the roofs of the houses, and about fiaeen hundred shattered, and thrown 
down in part. There was a shock every d ly till the twenty-second." 
Th3 simc year and m^nth, is also memorable for the terrible earthquake 
which destroyed Lisbon. 

The proprietors of the common and undivided lands in the town, having 
disposed of nearly every foot of land belonging to them, were now about 
dissolving their organization. Their work was nearly finished. No meet- 
ing was held from September 5, 1755, to November 20, 1758, and from the 
latter date, to 1763, there were but few meetings, and but little business 
transacted. In April of the latter year, Joshua Sawyer petitioned them 
'• for liberty to. flow and draw ye water off ye Great Pond," and Bavra- 
chias Farnam requested leave to build a mill on the brook, on his own 
land, and an equal privilege to flow and draw the Pond with Sawyer. 
The record does not show that either petition was granted. In July a 
meeting was called, at which some business was done and an adjournment 
made to October 10th. This proved to be the last meeting of the proprie- 
tors, and as a fitting close to our history of their doings through the long 
43 « 



838 HISTOET OF HAVERHILI.. 

period of their active organization, we copy the entire record 'of the last 
named date : — 

" Essex Ss Haverhill October 10. A D 1763. This being the time 
to which ye Props meeting was adjourned. The moderator did not come, 
and so this meeting ended of course. 

Att Nathl Peaslee Sargeant Props Clerk." 

In the year 1759, Samuel Blodgett erected " pot and pearl ash" works 
on Mill Brook. They were among the first in the country, and continued 
in successful operation for some years. 

In 1760, the town granted John Swett a lease of the ferry at Holt's 
Eocks for ten years. This ferry had for forty years previous to that time 
been kept by his father. 

About this time, settlements began to extend rapidly toward the north 
and east — particularly the latter. Early in the year last named, several 
Haverhill men were granted six townships in the Province of Maine, 
between the Penobscot and St. Croix Eivers.* 

In 17G1, the crops of grain in Eastern Massachusetts were mostly de- 
stroyed by a severe drought, so that many families were out of com and 
rye before the winter was half gone. In this emergency, Joseph Haynes, 
of the West Parish, made a journey to Connecticut, on horseback, to make 
arrangements to obtain a supply for the needy in the town. Having 
agreed with the store-keepers at Hartford, Wethersfield, and vicinity, to 
collect a quantity for him, he returned home. In a few weeks he again 
went on, loaded a vessel with corn, and sailed for Haverhill, where he 
arrived safely with his precious cargo. Several persons oflPered him his 
price per bushel, and take the whole cargo, but he declared he did not 
buy it to speculate on himself, and that nobody else should have it for that 
purpose. He sold the cargo in parcels, not exceeding five bushels each, 
and only to those who actually needed it for food, or for seed. Such an 
act well deserves honorable mention in a history of the town. 

Sometime in the summer of 1763, the bridge over Little Ejver near the 
present flannel factory, was rebuilt. The following materials were required 
for the job : Two gallons and three quarts of rum, two and a half pounds 
of " Shugar," one hundred and twenty-one feet of two-inch plank, one 
hundred and thirty feet of two and a half inch plank, and twenty feet of 
white oak timber. The first article was doubtless used for hracing. 

° David Marsh, Enoch Bartlet, Isaac Osgood, Jonathan Buck, James Duncan, James McHard. " and 
others." Buck was the only one of the petitioners named, who actually settled on the lands. In June, 
1775, he, with other inhabitants of Belfast, Majaliigwaduce, and Benjamin's River, applied to the Pro- 
vincial Congress for a supply of corn and ammunition, of which they wore in great want. The Congress 
Tot«d them a supply of arms and ammunition, and two hundred bushels of nidian corn. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 339 

At tlie annual meeting in 1764, the proposition to divide the parsonage 
lands among the four parishes was again negatived. 

Previous to 1765, there had been but one church, one meeting-house, 
and one mode or form of religious worship in each of the parishes ; and 
but one form or standard of religious faith. The "established church '\in 
the town, and indeed in the colony, was the " orthodox congregational " 
church. This was emphatically " the religion of the State," and it Was 
not until more than a century after the establishment of the Massachusetts 
and Plymouth colonies that any ot^cr system was even tolerated. But the 
attempt to oblige men to any particular form, or doctrine, produced in time 
the very state of things which was so much feared by the founders of these 
colonies. New doctrines were proposed, believed, and taught, and new 
sects arose, despite of the most stringent laws against them, and in the 
face of even persecution itself. 

Among the earliest of the sects which sprang up in Massachusetts and 
claimed recognition as such, were the Baptists. From an obscure begin- 
ning they gradually worked their way until the disciples of the new 
doctrine were numbered by thousands, among whom were some of the 
ablest minds of that time. One of these was Kev. Hezekiah Smith, a man 
of rare powers as a preacher, and who became an acknowledged leader in 
the "New Light" movement. He visited Haverhill in the fall of 1764, 
and labored with such success that a church of " Separatists," or as they 
soon came to be called, " Baptists," was organized the following spring, 
and immediately proceeded to build themselves a meeting-house. So rapid 
■was the growth of the new church, that in less thaii three years it num- 
bered over one hundred members. As we give a particular account of this 
church in another place, we pass over it for the present without further 
notice. 



340 HISTORY OF nATEftniLl* 



CHAPTEll XXL 



THE FRENCH "\VAK. 175G TO 1763. 



After a very short period of actual peace between the French an(3 
English in North America, the New England colonists were again thrown 
into a state of anxiety and distress by another war against France. The 
war actually commenced in 1754, though not formally declared till Maj', 
175G. Early in the spring of 170'), preparations were made by the colo- 
nies for vigorous and extensive operations against the enemy. Four 
expeditions were planned : — one against the French in Nova Scotia; a 
second against the French on the Ohio ; a third against Crown Point ; and 
a fourth against Niagara. 

In the expedition to Nova Scotii were a number of Haverhill men, but, 
for the reasons given in another place, we are un:;ble to give their name?/ 
This expedition resulted in the surrender of sevei-al of the French forts in 
that province, and in the dispersion of the "neutral French." This last 
act deserved, and has receiA'ed, the severest condemnation. Four hundred 
and eighteen inoflfonsive people were kidnapped, and over seven thousand 
were transported, and their property confiscated. And, as if this was not 
enough, families xoere separated, and transported in different ships to widely 
separated parts of the country ! Devils incarnate could not have devised 
a more cruel scheme. 

About one thousand of these poor Acadians were landed in Boston, at 
the opening of winter. These gradually became dispersed among the 
towns in Massachusetts. Many of them fell upon the towns for support. 
This town, in 1759, paid twelve pounds, ten shillings, toward supporting 
eight of them, who had been assigned the town as its proportion to support. 
These eight persons were all women and children. 

In the expedition to Crown Foiut were the following from this town : — ■ 

At Lake George, November 22, 1755, were Nathan Merrill, John Pres- 
ley, Filbrick Colbey, and Nathan Page. 

In a Cluster Poll, (dated Felraary 24, 1756,) of "men who went ta 
Albany," we find nearly an ert're company from this town. The follow- 
ing are the names, with the time of eiit:ring and leaving the service : — 
Edmund Mooers, Capt, entered Apl 4, 1755, Discharged Jan 5 175& 

Jonathan Duston, Ensign " " " " " Dec 12 1755 

Daniel Mooers, Serjt " " 12 " " Oct 18 " 

Michael Amy, Corp " "8 " " *' 15 " 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILt. 



341 



entered May 6 

" Apl 7 
(k) " " 



1755, discharMd Oct. 22 1775 



Apl 12 
" 15 

" 2G 



" 29 
May 2 
" 14 
" 14 



Dec 12 




Sep 8 




Dec 12 




.< i. 




"15 




Oct 9 




Dec 12 




" 15 




Oct 22 




Dec 15 




<< >< 




<< << 




Oct 9 




Dec 15 




Oct 24 




Dec 12 




" 15 




" 12 





iDaniel GriflSn, Corp. 

Bartho Pecker, Private 

"•■ Joseph Brown " 

James Clement " 

Wm Towusend " 

Wm Pell 

Page Harriman " 

Joseph Bayley " 

David Eaton " 

Samuel Ordway " 

Samuel Staples " 

John Frink " 

Samuel Thompson " 

Joua Haszeltine " 

Stephen Woodward " 

James Emerson Jr " 

Moses Eaton " 

Daniel Williams " 

Timothy Clements " 

Joshua Corliss " " ♦' " " '« " >' " 

In the company of Captain Samuel Gerrish, of Newbury, were the fol- 
lowing from Haverhill : — 

Jonathan Sergent, Serjt, entered Sept 15, 1755, Dischd Dec 17, 
Joseph Silliway, " 
Bradbury Morrison, Clerk, 
Amos Currier, Drummer 
Austin George Private 

William Guy, " 

Zechariah Huuniford " 
Abiel Knight " 

Jona Dustan " 

- William Emerson " 

Philbrook Colby 
Eleazer Smith " 

Barton Pollard " 

"NYm Middleton • " 

In the company of Captain Henry Ingalls, of Andover, were 
James Emerson, Private, entered Oct 3, Dischd Doc 13 

Peter Fling " «< << << << << ig 

° The letter (k) annexed to his name, signifiw killed. 



1755 



Nov 27 " 
Dec 17 " 



842 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 



In the return of Captain James Eichardson's company, under date of 
May 0, 175G, we find the following from this town: — •' 

Lewis Kicker (miner), Ephraim Perry, Daniel Williams, 

Stephen Heath ) , . , John Dow, 
"NVm Kimball ) Joshua Perey.f 

Edmund Pillsbury, 
Philbrook Colby, 

In the "Muster Eoll of Men raised in 1756 for the Expedition to 
Crown Point," in Colonel Saltonstall's regiment, we find the following 
from Haverhill. They all enlisted previous to April 15th : — 



Thomas Worthing, 
Asa Gile, 
Oliver Page, 
Moses Merrill, 



Capt Edmund Mooers, 
Lt James Russell, 
John Frink, 
John Presley, 
Edmund Black, 
William Middleton, 
William Hoyt, 
James Hide, 
John Ingerfield, 



Nathan Page, 
Moses Eams, 
Oliver Page, 
Peter Ingerfield, 
Moses Stickney, 
Philbrook Colby, 
Daniel AVilliams, 
Nathl Smith, 
Samuel Foster. 



Edmund Pillsberry, 

Benj Howard, 

John Burrel, 

Lt Moses Hazzen, 

Moses Clark, 

Lt Nathan Baker, 

Zebediah Sergeant, 

Bartholomew Pecker, 

Asa Guile, 

In the Muster Roll of "Major Saltonstall's Company of Impressed 
Men," April, 1756, we find the following Haverhill men: — 
Samuel Haseltine, Joshua Page, Samuel Ayer, 

Joseph Emerson, Joseph Haseltine, Ithamore Emerson, 

John Coon, Moses Merril, John Emerson Jr, 

From documents accompanying the above, it appears that fifty men 
were called for, for that particular service, but ninety-five were enlisted. 
The number wanted were selected from the whole number enlisted. The 
following were selected from Haverhill : — 
Lt Moses Hazzen, "^ 

NaThTsm^' I from Col Saltonstall's Comp 
Moses Clark, J 
Samuel Ayer, 
Joshua Page, 
Ithamore Emerson, 
John Emerson Jur, 



- from Maj Saltonstall's Comp. 



• From these returns, it will be seen that the same names were not unfrequently reported in several 
different companies the same year. This is explained by the fact that they enlisted from time to time 
for a particular service, and for short periods. To take up each name separately, and give the times and 
places of service, would require more space than we can afford to spare for that purpose, and we therefore 
give the names as we find them, and leave to those particularly interested, the task of tracing out the 
entire period of service of individual soldiers. 

t Joshua Perry was in Captain Hodge's company, on the west side of the lake, when an attack wai 
made by the enemy, and all of his company, except himself and four others, were killed or captoied. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



343 



In the Muster Koll of Captain Timothy Parker's company, at Fort 
Edward,* July 26, 1756, were the following who give this town as their 
last place of residence, though not all of them were born here : — 
Jeams Russell, Ens, Silas Flood, cordwainer John Con, 
Samuel Hog, cordwainer Edmund Pillsbury, Timothy Page, 

Jethrew Clugf, Moses Merrill, Philbrook Colby, Black- 

Asa Gile, Thomas AVorthen, smith, 

Oliver Page, Joshua Perre, Blacksmith Daniel Williams. 

In the company of Jonathan Pearson, at the same time and place, was 
William Perry, boat-builder. 

In the company of Captain James Parker were 

Samuel Currier, Serjt, aged 43, Joyner 
James Silver, " " 33, Cordwainer 

Timothy Ingalls, Private, " 36, Trader 
James Emerson, " " 45, Husbandman 

In Captain Edmund Mooers' company were 
Capt Edmund Mooers, Cordwainer 
Lt, Moses Hazzen aged 23 Tanner 
Serjt, Micah Amy yeoman 
Clark, Samuel Poster aged 18 Taylor 
Private Daniel Eoberds " 56 Laborer 
" Benj Black Mason 
" Wm Hoyt Tanner 
** Page Harrimen Carpenter 
" Samuel Ayers, aged 28 Tanner 
Soon afterward, the above company was stationed at Fort William 
Henry,f and from a Muster Poll dated October 11, 1756, we find in addi- 
tion to the above names, those of Christopher Connely, Jonathan Harris, 
Jonathan Blaisdell, and John Pressey. 

The return of Captain Stephen Webster's company, at Fort W^illiam 
Henry, dated August 9, 1756, gives the following Haverhill names: — 
Gideon Challis, Serjt, agd39, b in Amesbury, now of Haverhill, carpenter 



John Burrill, Corp, " 


31, 


" Lynn, " 


<i (( 




Peter Johnson " " 


25, 


" Haverhill " 


" Suncook, 




Bradbry Saunders Soldr" 


19, 


<« 


" Haverhill, 




John Castleng, " " 


18, 


(< <( <( 


., 




Bartholomew Pecker " " 


25, 


" Boston, " 


,i 




Joseph Silvia " " 


35, 


" Amesbury, " 


it <( 




Zebediah Sergant " " 


36, 


H ■ << <( 


.« 




Morrell AYicher " " 


28, 


*' Haverhill, " 


<< It 





• Fort Edward was a wooden fort, near the Hudson River, erected in May, 1756. 
t Fort William Henry, was a wooden fort, erected at Lake George, in May, 1756, 



Har 29, 


" 


Oct 4 


" 20, 


" 


Nov 27 


" 29, 


<< 


Dec 4 



344 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

In Major Stephen Miller's company, at the same place and date, were 
Hezekiah Hutchins, Lt. aged 29, born in Haverhill now of Newbury. 
Thomas Thompson, Corp " 24, " " " " " Exeter. 

Ebenr Green, Private, " 18, " " Ipswich " " Haverhill. 

-Gideon George " " 19, " " Haverhill " " 

Josiah Young, " " 17, " " " " " Salem. 

In Colonel Kingsbury's company, at the same place and date, was 
"William Brown, private, born in Haverhill, now of Newbury, Shipwright. 

In Captain John Nixon's company, August 28, at the same place was 
Jno Presson, private, aged 18, born in Haverhill, now of Lester. 

A " return of men ordered to be raised " in the town, dated August 23, 
1756, shows that Colonel Saltonstall ordered fifteen, and the full number 
had " gone." 

In the company of Captain Gideon Parker, of Newbury, at the last 
named fort, (under date of December 22, 1756,) we find 

Nathan Baker, Lieut, entered Feb 18, Dischgd Dec 22, 1756 
Benja Howard, Serjt, " 
Moses Howe, Clerk " 

Nathan Page, Private " 
Edmund Black " " " " " " " " 

Solomon Page •' " *' " " " " " 

Moses Ames " " " " " " " " 

Moses Stickney " " " " " " " " 

In Captain Samuel George's company, was John Frink, Ensign, entered 
February 18, 1756, discharged December 2, 1756. 

In the Muster Roll of Captain Timothy Parker's company, " in the ex- 
pedition to Crown Point,"f (dated March 2, 1757,) we find the following: 
James Russell, Ens, entrd Feb 18 to Dec 6 
Moses Merrill, drumer, " Apl 1 *' " 
Silas Flood, Private, " " " " " 
Thomas "Worthing " Mar 15 " " 

" A " Tiiylor." 

t TicONTEitoGA AXD Crown Point. In 1731, the French took possession of Crown Point; and in 
17o5, they threw np an lulviinced work on Ticondcroga. Nature and art joined to make this a very 
strong and important fortress. In the years 1730 and 1757, large armies were kept np by the British 
colonies, at the south end of Lake George. In n.jS, Abercrombic passed Lake Genrge with an army of 
twenty thousand men, to attack Ticonderoga. On July 8th, he attempted to carry the works by storm. 
The attack proved unforttinate, and his army was defeated with great slaughter. The French abandoned 
Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and they were taken possession of by General Amherst, July 5, 1759. In 
the beginning of the American Uevolution, Colonel Ethan Allen undertook to reduce these posts, and on 
the morning of May 10, 1775, he entered and took Ticonderoga, and the same day took Crown Point. 
July 0, 1777, Ticonderoga was abandoned to the British under Burgoyne, and again given up to the Amer- 
icans the same fall. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 



S45 



Apl 1 ' 


' Sept 20 (dead or capt) 


Mar 15 ' 


" Oct 11 


Apl 1 ' 


.< u 24 


Mar 15 ' 


' Dec 6 



Joshua Peirce, Privates entrd Mar 25 to Dec 6 
Jethro Clugif " " Apl 2 " Oct 8 (dead) 
Asa Guile, " " Mar 15 " Dec 6 

Philbrook Colby " " " " " 
John Con 

Oliver Page " 

Timothy Page 
Edmund Pillsbry " 
Daniel Williams " '• " " " 
Since the preceding pages "were written, we have found the following 
interesting certificate, which, though in part a repetition of names already 
given, we consider too valuable to be left out, or even abbreviated. 

" Haverll : Janry 2Sth 1757. 
Sr 

This may Certify that the Persons Belonging to this Town whose 
numes are as follows were in the Service on the Expedition for Crown Point 
and were not rated in the Year 1756 — 
out of the first ComiDy Wm Middlctori, 

Christopr Connelly, 
Nathl Smith, 
Wm Hoyt, 
Benja Black. 



In 3d Company 



Cap. Edmd Mooers, 
Lt James Russell, 
Lt Nathan Baker, 
Lt Moses Hazzen, 
Lt Jno McCurd}', 
^bediuh Sargent, 
Ensn Jno Frink, 
Jno Burrill, 
Saml Foster, 
Bartw Pecker, 
Jno Prcslcey, 
Asa Gile, 
Edmd Black, 
Natban Page, 
]\Ioses Ayres, 
Abrm Kimball, 
Saml Middleton, 
Oliver Page, 
James Hide, 
Peter Ingerfield, 
Jno Ingerfield, 
Moses Stijkney, 
Edmd Pils'jury, 
Gideon Church, 
Benja Howard, 
Danl W^illiama, 
44 



in 2d company 

Maj R Soltonstall, 
Danl Haseltine, 
Jona Haseltine, 
James Emerson, 
Jno Bradley, 

Grecuough, 

' Ebenr Brown, 
Saml Currier, 
Simon Ayer, 

SinioD, 

Jno Emerson Jur, 
John Conn, • 

Uran, 

Moses Merrill, 
and Jos Hescltinc jur 
Saml Hcseltine 
and Josiah Emerson, 
enlisted aud hired 
others in New Hampe 
to go for them 



Jos Osillaway, 
Gideon Challis, 
Gideon Geoi-ge, 
Samuel Sargent, 
Sanders Bradbury, 
Green Whittier, 
& Jno Page was Pressd 
and hired a man in 
New Hampe to go for him 
In the whole 53 



& the others that^ 
Hired out of New [■ 
Hamp J 



Total 57 
The Poll Tax for 
48 a 9s £24,15,0 
Poll Tax to the "I 
Deputys pay is [• 2,9,3 

a Id I 3 

£27,12,11 
£21,15.0 
2, 9,3 



546 * mSTORT OF HATEHHItL. 

And vre arc Informd that vrc arc to have an alloTvancc for all those per- 
sons Poll Tax out of the Province Treasury — (which we Desiro may he 
paid to Enoch Eurtlet one of us) for the P)cncfit of our Town. 

To "Harrison Gray Esq > Moses Clements ^ c i *. 

Prove Trcacurcr iu Boston j Daniel Johnson ) ^ t^ ^^^ 

Cornelius Johnson f tt ^ .1 -it 
Enoch Bartlet J 
George Wctherby out of the first Company." 

For a well written account of the disastrous campaign of 175 G, in 
which so manj'^ Haverhill men were engaged, we would refer the reader to 
Barry's excellent History of Massachusetts. 

-Before the clcs3 of the year 1756, the party which had mismanaged 
affairs for over forty years w-ent out of power, and William Titt, the early 
and devoted friend of America, assumed the reins which had fallen from 
the hands of the Duke of Newcastle, From this time, the affairs of the 
war assumed a new aspect. A military council was held in Boston in Jan- 
uary, 1757, at which it was decided to attempt the reduction of Canada, 
and- of the four thousand men levied on New England, Massachusetts was 
to furnish eighteen hundred. These were all mustered before the last of 
March, and ready for service. 

From the Muster Bolls of these forces, we learn that the following Hav- 
erhill men were engaged in the expedition : — 

Jan 26, 1757, in Capt Robert Roger's company, John McCurdy, clerk. 

Feb 8th, in Capt Jona Bagley's Comjiauy, Peter Johnson, armorour. 

Feb 13, in Capt Stephen Miller's Comp (at Boston) were Corp Thomas 
Tompson, Allen Greenough, Gideon George (son of David), Joshua 
Young. 

Feb 16th, in Timothy Euggles's Eegiment, Major Richard Saltonstall. 

Feb 17, in Lt Col James Frye's Company (at Boston) wei-e 
Jona Urine, James Emerson, Simon Aj-ers. 

Jonathan Simonds, Isaac Foster, Joseph Emerson. 

Daniel Hazclton, Jonathan Hazelton, 

John Eastman, John Emerson, 

Below we give the name of every man enrolled in the militia in this 
town in the spring of 1757. The list, of course, includes the name of 
every man in the town, not exempt from military duty: — 

"A List of the first Company in Haverhill. 

Lieut Benja Gale, "Wm Greenleaf, Oliver Sawyer. 

Ens Joseph Eager, David .Marsh, 

Sergeants Drummers Daniel Appleton, 

John Avers, James Pearson, Jacob Ayei:, 

SamuerSheppard, Nathan ^.yer. 



I 



HISTORY OF HAVEKHILL. 



347 



TetcT Ayer, 
Enoch Bartlit, 
Enoch Eager, 
Nathaniel Eager, 
Isaac Eradly Junr, 
John Baker, 
Nathl Ealch, 
Edmund Elack, 
William Briant, 
Michael Bodwell, 
John Cogswell Jun> 
Samuel Clement, 
Stephen Cross, 
Samuel Calf, 
Isaac Chase, 
Ezra Cottle, 
Peter Clement, 
John McCasling, 
Joshua Dustin, 
Isaac Dow, 
Ezra Tucker, 
Bartholome Perkins, 
Mark Emerson, 
Thomas Whitaker, 
Nehemiah Emerson, 
Samuel Eames, 
Pilchard Emerson, 
David Eaton, 
Moses Eames, 
Josiah Fulsom, 
Eowel Foot, 
John Farnham, 
Joseph Flagg, 
Benja Foules, 
Samuel Gale, 
Daniel Gale, 
Ephraim Gile, 
Asa Gile, 
Samuel Gile, 
John Bointon, 
Symonds Greenough, 



Stephen Gullishan, 
Austin George, 
Jonathan George, 
Thomas Gage, 
-John Gile, >.«^ 
Job Gage, 
John Hall, 
John Hall Jun, 
Nathaniel Hall 
Charles Haddock, 
Stephen Harriman, 
Joel Heariman, 
Nathl Johnson, 
Timothy Kezer, 
Benja Leach, 
Dudley Ladd, 
Henry Lebeter, 
Moses Marsh, 
Enoch Mai'sh,!/' 
Nathl Marsh. 
Silvanus Heath, 
James Simonds, 
Benja Moors, 
Cornelius Mansise, 
Ammiruhama Moore, 
Thomas McHard, 
Israel Morrill, 
'vYilliara Middleton, 
Jacob Nicholls 
Samuel Middieton, 
David Newhal Jun, 
Benja Poor, 
Samuel Pears, 
Edmund Pilsbry, 
Edward Eusscl, 
Ebenezer Bussel, 
David Euuuils, 
"Winslow Eichardson, 
Nathl Eedington, 
Daniel Eedington, 
John Stuard, 

" The Alarm List/-* 
.the Eev Edward Barnard Timothy White Cler, 
Samuel White Esqr, John White Cler, 
James McHard Esqr, Capt Edward Moors, 



John Sawyer, 
Jonathan Sawyer, 
Jeremy Stickney, 
John Smyly, 
Solomon Springer, 
Joshua Springer, 
Jonathan Simons Jur 
John Straw, 
Eichard Simons, 
Isaac Snow, 
Peter Sanders, 
Moses Smith, 
Samuel Shackford, 
Thomas West, 
Nathl Walker, 
Thomas Whittier, 
Timothy White Jur, 
John ^Vhite, 
Joseph Whitaker, 
Jonathan Webster, 
Samuel Whiting, 
Nathl Cogswell, 
Ebenezer Gage, 
Samuel Johnson, 
Jonathan Shepard, 
Nathan Simond, 
Ezekiel Wilson, 
Jonathan Sargant, 
Daniel Moores, 
Samuel Gile, 
Peter Ingerfield, 
Eichard Emerson, 
Samuel Forster, 
Cutting Marsh, 
James Sawyer, 
William Chase, 
- Elisha Moody, 
Samuel Midleton, 
James Calfe, 
Maxe Haseltine. 



Lieut Nathan Baker, 
Ens James Eussell, 
Ens John Frink, 



° The Alarm List includes all between the ages ot sixteen and sixty years of age, who were exempt 
from ordinarj- military duty. Upon extraordiaary emeigencies. these weie liable to be called out to do 
4uty in their own town. 



348 



HrSTORT OF HATERHItt, 



Pn Benja Clement, 
Du David Marsh, 
David Aycr. 
Jonathoii Buck, 
BcDJa Baker, 
Moses Clement, 
John Cogswell, 
James Dunkin, 
John Eaton, 
"William George, 
Dr. Stephen Huse, 



James Leacount, 
David Newell, 
Isaac Osgood Cler, 
Dr James Pecker, 
AVilliam Swanton, 



Nathl Eolfc- 
Stephen Herimafl/ 
Lieut John liusseil, 
Dr Cast, 
James Cook, 



Nathl Pcasly Sergeant, Jacob "Willard, 

Mathcw Soley, Dr John Husc, 

John Miillcian, Joshua Swyer, 

David Farnum, Lieut Moses Hazzen, 

Timothy Clement, Dn David Marsh, 



Haverhill April ISth 1757. 

Attest Samuel Appleton Clerk."^ 
" A List of the Second foot Company in Haverhill, whereof Major 
Richard Saltonstall Esq is Capt. 
First Lieut Nehemiah Bradly, 

Daniel Bradly, Joshua Emery Junr, 
Second Lieut Benja Eaton, 

Timothy Emerson, John Emery, 



Ens John Mitchell, 

Sergants 
Jonathan Emerson, 
Jonathan Webster, 
Samuel "Watts, 
Nathl Dustin, 

Corporals 
Ebcnczer Baly, 
James Haseltinc, 
Samuel Haseltine, 
Joseph I'^mcrson, 

Drumers 
Moses Bradly, 
AYiUiam Ladd, 

Soldiers 
Eichard Bayly, 
Amos Balv, 
AVilliam Baly, 
Daniel Bradly, 
Amos Bradly, 
Nathl Bradly, 
George Corlice, 
Joseph Corlice, 
Samuel Clcmont, 
Micah Emerson, 
Jonathan Emerson Jr, 
Peter Emerson, 
Joseph Eaton, 



Joseph Hanes, 
Nathan Heaseltine, 
Joseph Hale, 
John Flezer, 
Ezekiel Ladd, 
Ebenezer Mitchell, 
Enoch Marble, 
Samuel Merrill, 
Joseph Hill Ordway, 
"William Page, 
Nathan Parely, 
John Smith, 
John Smith Junr, • 
Samuel Silver, 
John Silver Jun, 
John Stuart, 



Thomas Merril, 
Samuel C'ronnid, 
Timothy Eaton, 
John Swadock Corlice, 
John Goss, 
Benja Ordiway, 
Daniel Ladd Jun, 
Toothaker Webster Em- 
erson, 
Amy Euhamy Hayns, 
Ebenezer Baly Jun, 
David Bradley, 
Timothy Emerson Jun, 
James Webster, 
Edward Ordiway, 
-^ oseph Emerson 2d, 
Jonathan Harrice, 
Joseph Atward, 
Thomas Spear, 
Jacob Woodard 



Jonathan Sheppard Jun, Nathliel Clark, 
F tevenc Webster 3d, James Atwood, 



John Hastings, 
John Symouds, 
David Harrice, 
Daniel Heath, 
AVilliam Hutchings, 
William Mitchell, 
AVilliam Bradly, 
Jeremiah Haseltine, 
Peter Carlcton, 
James Kimball, 



Jonathan Dustin Jun, 
Samuel Bradly, 
James Emerson Jun, 
Jonathan Heaseltine, 
Enoch Johnson, 
Jonathan Simonds, 
Samuel Aycr, 
Peter Aycr Jun, 
David Hayues, 
Jeremiah Hutchings, 



Samuel Lovckin, 
John Heaseltine, 
James Merrill, 
Joshua Corlice, 
Asa Lacid, 
John Emerson Jun, 
Humphry Baly, 
Daniel Griffing, 
Joseph Heaselate, 
Josiah Brown, 
Thomas Whitteker, 
John Bradly, 
Joshua Emery, 
Josiah Emerson, 



HISlORT OF HAVERHILI,. 

^Samuel Celley,-^ 
Page Herimon, 
Daniel Heaseltine, 
Peter Page, 
Moses Webster, 
Moses Merrill, 
James Eaton Jun, -* 
Ithemore Emerson, 
Obediah Belknap, 
Moses Eaton, 
Samuel Ordiway, 
Pilchard Kelley, 
Amous Emersen, 
Elezer Emerson, 

The Alarm List. 



349 



Jonathan Eaton 2d, 
Abel Page, 
Peter Webster,* 
Enos Webster, 
Isaac Webster, ^ 
Simon Ayer, 
Samuel Webster, 
Daniel Ladd,— 
John Emerson, 
John Jaquish, 
Samuel Whitteker, 
John Marble, 
James Emerson. 



Ebcnezer Webster, 
Jonathan Herriman, 
Amos Page, 
David Merrill, 



Eevd Samuel Batchelder Nathaniel Clemonts, 
Dn William Ayer, Bradly Mitchel, 

Dn Stephen Webster, William Boarmon, 
Ens Stephen Whitteker, Stephen Gage, 
Jonathan Marsh, John Clemonts, 

Jeremiah Bayly, Thomas Webster, 

Haverhill April 14th 1757 

attest Richard Ayer Clcr." 



" A List of the third foot Company in Haverhill. 



Capt Daniel Johnson, 
Lieut Ruben Currier, 
Ens Ezra Chase, 
Sergants 
Robert Hunkins, 
Joseph Kelley, 
Lewis Page, 
Ebenezer Colby, 
Drummer 
Amos Currier, 



Samuel Ayer, 
Samuel Bradbury, 
Sanders Bradbury, 
Thomas Bretman, 
Calib Currier Jun, 
Isaac Colby, 
Theophelous Colby, 
Ebenezer Chase, 
Ruben Currier Junr, 



Samuel Davies, 
John Davies, 
Amos Davies, 
Moses Eaton, 
Nathaniel Edwards, 
Samuel Esterbrooks, 
Samuel Elee, 
John Edwards, 
Gedion Gcoi'ge, 
David George, 
Gedion George Jun, 
Samuel George, 
William George, 
Joseph Grelee Jur, 
Stephen Gale, 
AVilliam Guie, 
Thomas Hunkings, 
Robert Hastings, 
jVIaverick Johnson, 
Seth Johnson, 



Timothy Johnson, 
John Jcifers 
Daniel Morison, 
Samuel JMorisou, 
Henry Morse, 
Samuel Page, 
John Partridge, 
AVilliam Page, 
Samuel Sanders, 
John Sanders, 
Joseph Silliway, 
Timothy Sweat, 
Timothy Smith, 
Benja Sanders, 
Heny Sargent, 
Samuel Sergant, 
Ebenezer Wood, 
Nathaniel Whittier. 



(> Peter Webster, Natbl Sanders, and Avery Sanders, w^c taken prisoners at Furt Wm. Henry in 1757. 



350 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

" The Alarm List. 

Eevd Benja Parlrer, Thomas Cotle Benja Grelcc, 

Joseph Grelee, John Morse, Jacob Sanders, ' 

John George, Ebenezer Whittier, Joseph Nickels, 

Haverhill March 17, 1757 

attest Eichard Colby Cler." 

From the above Rolls, it will be seen that the First Company was com- 
posed of residents of the First Parish ; the Second, of those belonging in 
the "West Parish ; and the Third, of those in the East Parish. 

On the 3 1 st of July, Gov. Pownall received information by express 
that Montcalm, with a large force of French and Indians, was moving to 
besiege Fort AVilliam Henry. He immediately hastened to forward re- 
inforcements and supplies, but before they had reached their destination, 
the gallant commander had been compelled to surrender. He did not 
yield, however, until half his guns were burst, and his amunition was 
expended. The Indians, with their usual ferocity, fell upon his troops 
after they were disarmed ; and, in the slaughter which ensued, six hun- 
dred dispersed among the woods and fled to Fort Edward, whither they 
were followed by their comrades, one after another. 

Immediately upon the above alarm, a detachment from each of the 
three companies in this town was ordered to march to the relief of the be- 
sieged garrison. Below we give the returns made for the first and third 
companies ; that for the second we have been unable to find : — 

♦* A Muster Eoll of a Detachment out of the first Fpot Company in 
Haverhill, Commanded by Joseph Badger Junr, Ensign of said Company, 
out of Lieut Coll John Osgood's Eegiment, that marched on the last alarm, 
for the relief of Fort "William Henry, as far as "Worcester — August ye 
16th 1757. 

Ens Joseph Badger Jun Joel Harriman, Elisha Moodey, 

Privates Thomas "Whitaker, AYilliam Farnam, 

Daniel Appelton, Nathaniel Ecddington, Samuel Eames, 

Moses Marsh, Jonathan George, Asa Guile, 

Timothy White Jun, John Baker, Benjamin Harris, 

Samuel Middclton, Stephen Cross, Israel Morrill, 

Samuel Middelton Jun, Nathaniel Johnson Jun, Michael Bowden, 

"Wintrop Bagley, Asa Tucker, Moses Ames, 

John Knapp, Jeremiah Sticknee, Benjamin Fowler." 

Aaron Sargent, Edward Eussell, 

Timothy Kezar, Isaac Dow, 

" A Muster Eoll of a Detachment out of the Third Foot Company 
in Haverhill Commanded by Eeuben Currier Lieut of said Com- 



niSTOKT OP HAVERHILt. SBf 

pany out of Lieut Coll John Osgood's Ecgement that marched on the Last 
alarm for the Keiief of Fort AVilliam Henry as far as Worcester, August 
16: 1757. 

Lieut Eeuben Currier, Timothy Johnson, Thomas Butman, 

John Sanders, Asa Currier, Calib Currier, 

Ebenezer Wood, David Morison, William Page." 

Amos Davice, Henry Morse, 

All the above, except Israel Morrill, (who was in service only three 
days) were in service nine days, eight of which were occupied in travelling 
to and from Worcester. They were "impressed" August 15th, and 
received two shillings and eight pence a day, each. 

Since writing the above, we have found, among the papers relating to 
the Reduction of Canada, the following roll of names, which, we think, 
must be the missing list of those detached from the second foot company 
at this time : — 

John Osgood, Lt Coll 2d foot Company, 
Maj Richard Saltonstall Capt, 

Daniel Bradly 1st Lt, James Haseltine Cornet, Joseph Haynes, 
Timothy Emerson 2d do Saml Haseltine " Toothaker Webster, 

John Mitchel Ens, Joseph Emerson " Jonathan Marsh, 

Jonathan Webster Serjt, Henry Bailey " Xathl Clement, 

Nathl Dustin " Moses Bradly Drum John Clement, 

Saml Watts " Wm Ladd " Bradly Mitchell, 

Jonathan Emerson " David Haynes, Jonathan Harriman, 

Ammi R Haynes, Rev Saml Batcheldor. 

Of the Haverhill men " in the capitulation," of August 9, we can only 
find the following : — 

In Capt Richard Saltonstall's Company : 

Richard Saltonstall, Capt, entd Feb 12, dischgd Nov 7, 1757 
Isaac Chase, Corp, " Mar 16, " Oct 23, " 

Edmund Black, private, " " 22, «' " " 

In the list of names of those "not in the capitulation," we find the 
following" : — 

Jonathan Blaisdell, private, entd Mar 15, Dischgd Sept 29 
Philbrook Coleby, " " " 2\ , deserted] m ^Q^t 

Joshua Perry, " " " 14, Dischgd Dec 3 

Thomas Stone, Corp, " " 21, " Nov 17 

Early in 1758, large preparations were made for a vigorous campaign. 
Three expeditions were planned, — the Jirst to besiege Louisburg, the 

° The date of the list is December 23, 1757. 

.t Among the one hundred and thirty-three deserters from the Massachusetts forces in the year 1757. 
we find only this Haverhill ua^e I 



852 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.- 



second to scour the Ohio valley, and the third to proceed against Ticonder- 
oga and Crown Point, — all of them having in view as a grand object and 
aim, the reduction of Canada. 

The following gleanings fi-om the muster rolls of this year show that 
our town was well represented in the campaign : — 

"EETURN of the Men inlisted for his Majesty's Service within the 
Province of the Massachusetts Bay in the Kegiment whereof John Osgood 
Jun, Esq : is Colonel, to be put under the immediate Command of Hig 
Excellency JEFFRY AMHERST, Esqr: General and Commander in 
Chief of His Majesty's Forces in North America, for the Invation of 
CANADA." 



NAMES. 



"William Atwood 

James Scamons ...... 

Samuell Middleton. .. 

David Farnum 

Benja Fowle 

Wm Richardson 

Ebenezer Kimball . . . ■ 

Obediah Page 

Wm Clements 

George Hadly , 

Sampson French .... 
Joshua Springer. . . . , 

Philbrook Colby 

Jackson West , 

Joshua Heath 

William Cook 

Sampson French Jur . 

Joseph Morse 

STohn Guile 

James Rix 

Timothy Johnson. . . 
Benja Hunkings, ... 

Caleb Currier 

William Page. . . .-. 

Michel Page 

Joseph Osilaway .... 
Moses AVorthien, .... 
William Farmer. .. . , 

















g.2 


cj 






L4 


■ .G 2 


.og 


M 


(Sc 




f:= 







Where Resident. 



Apl 
Mar 



Apl 
Mar 

Apl 
Mar 



Apl 
Mar 



Apl 
Mar 



I Apl 
iMar 
jApl 



G 






Hav 


erhill 


6 










28 


1758 


L. George 






28 


(< 








28 


'» 








29 


<< 








2 


<' 








28 


" 








2 


<( 








28 


" 








28 


1757 








29 


" 








4 


<< 








28 


«' 








28 


(i 








31 


(< 








6 


n 








28 


<( 








27 


(( 








27 


" 








29 


1758 








29 


<< 








29 










29 


(1 








29 


" 








2 


i< 








24 
2 








1758 


L. George 


Hav 


erhill 



18 
18 
46 
44 
26 
21 
18 
27 
18 
18 
40 
25 
23 
17 
17 
18 
17 
21 
19 
17 
21 
18 
19 
21 
18 
39 
39 
19 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



353 



l^ollowing the. albovc ate tlie names of ten others, from Bradford, New- 
5)ury, &c., but none from HaverhilL Of the following names, a pai't only 
^ere Haverhill men; but as some of them were, and we are unable to 
designate all of them with certainty, we copy the whole list: — 

" Koll of Capt John Hazzen of Haverhill, for the Reduction of Ticon- 
deroga & Crown Point." 
John Hazzen, Capt, Stephen Prescutt, 
John GofFe Jun 1st Lieut Nathan Colly, 
Joseph White 2d Lieut Silas Flood, 
Wm Richardson Ensign Richard Dow, 
Jabez Hoight Sergeant Richard Knight, 
Benja Stone " Jeremiah Kent, 

Mathcw Bryant " John Lovewell, "^ 
James Bryant " Daniel Flood, 

Jona Kemble Corp Parish Richardson, 
Benj Batchelder " Caleb Marble, 
Stephen Page " Jessa Wilson, 

Stephen Dow " /Wm Whittaker, 



Aaron Copps, Private v Noah Emery, 
Thomas Croiford, Joshua Howard, 



Peter Whitteker, ' 
John Tarbox, 
Phillip Emerson, 
Levi Wyman, 
Asa Curtis, 
Jona Colby, ^ 
-John Giles, --'■''''^ 
Jona Worster, 
Edmind Colby, 
Abner Vv'hcelcr, 
Asa Worster, 
.lohn Foster, 
Robert Young, 
Jona Hunt, 
Robert Greenough, 
Jona Stickney, 
Josiah Heath, 
Benoui Coburn, 
Micajah Morrill, 
Timothy Page, 
Benoni Rowell, 
Nathl Wood, 
Francis Knowlton, 
Josejih Lovewell. 



Bond Little, James Dow, 

Joseph Sawyer, Jeremiah Dow, 

David Copps, */ Amos Pollard, 

Caleb Emery, Jona Stevens. 

John Gage, Daniel Clifford, 

Joshua Chas3 Abner Sawyer, 

Joshua Gile, Jonas Clay, 

Joseph Gage, Abel Wright, 

Robert Cannada, • Wm Heath, 

Josejih Webster, Henry Benson, 

Thomas Cannada, Wm Flanders, 

James Dustou, Enoch Hale, 

In addition to the above, we find in Captain William Osgood's company, 
Oliver Page, who served from April 1, to November 15, 1758. 

But our limits will not allow us to follow up the whole history of this 
war ; and with the following extracts, showing the names of those from 
our town who took part in the struggle, and shared in the glorious results, 
we must again turn our attention homeward. We may, however, be per- 
mitted to say, in passing, that the campaign of 1758 was a brilliant one. 
In July, Louisburg was taken ; the next month. Fort Frontenac surren- 
dered ; and in November, Fort du Qucsne (now Pittsburg) was wrested 
from the French. The next j'car, the British arms were completely suc- 
cessful. In July, Niagara and Ticonderoga were taken, and when, on the 
45 



354 



HISTORY OP HAVERniLt 



18th of September, Quebec surrendered, the joy of the people seemed to 
know no bounds. 

In the Muster Eoll of the foot company of Captain Samuel George, 
dated February 7, 1759, we find Joseph Silliway entered May 2, dis- 
charged November 20,=- Joseph Springer entered April 3, discharged 
November 20. 

In the Muster Roll of the regiment of John Osgood, Jr., "for the inva- 
sion of Canada," were 

Col Richard Saltonstall, 
Capt Edmund Moorcs, 

James Emerson, inlisted Apl 6, aged 48 

Eichard Knight " 3& 

Mar 29, 
Apl 6, 



Timothy Kimball 
Benja Emery 
Nathl Bixbee 
Joseph Hutching Jur, 
Daniel Griffing 
Wilkes West 
Timothy Clements 
Dowf 



Mar 29, 

" 31, 

Apl 3, 

" 6, 

" 6, 

" 6, 

Captain Edmund Mooers' company, in Colonel Bagley's regiment, for 
the Reduction of Canada,! consisted of one hundred and one men. The 
following were from Haverhill : — 

Edmund Mooers Esq, Captain, entered Mar 13, Dischd Dec 9 



18 
23 
19 
16 
29 
19 
49 
41 
21 



Jonathan Buck, Lieut 


(t 


" 




Nov 20 


Peter Carleton 


(I 


(. 




Nov 20 


Samuel Foster, Serjt 


K 


Apl 8, 




<( 


Timothy White, " 


ti 


« 




(< 


David Famam, '• 


H 


<< 




Oct 26 


John Baker, " 


H 


i< 




Nov 20 


David Eaton, Corporal 


" 


Apll, 






Bartholomew Pecker, " 


" 


" 8, 






Samuel Middleton, " 


(( 


(i (( 






John Bradley, Drummer 


K 


" 3, 






Jonathan Serjeant, Private 


(( 


<< << 






Richard Simonds " 


<( 


Mar 30, 




"11 


John Steward " 


K 


Apl 4, 




" 3 


Ebenezer Kimball " 


l< 


i« (< 




"2(> 



■^ 1758. t ^^u'B^ name illegible. J 1759. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 






o55 


Josliua Perry Private entered 


Mar 30 


Dischd 


Nov 20 


James Leacount 


(( 


(< 


Apl 


7 


<( 


Oct 21 


Henry Greenkaf 


<< 


<< 


« 


8, 


to 


Nov 20 


Samuel Stickney 


<( 


<< 


<( 


<( 


<( 


<< << 


Moses Little 


<< 


<( 


<< 


7, 


<< 


(< << 


Elista Moody 


(( 


<< 


Mar 


3, 


died 


June 24 


Benjamin Fowle 


<< 


<( 


Apl 


10, 


to 


Nov 20 


Ezra Cottle 


<< 


<< 


<( 


U 


(< 


" 20 


John Swoodick Corliss 


<< 


<< 


<< 


3 


<( 


" 4 


John Pell 




<< 


(< 


8 


<< 


<C <( 


Daniel Williams 




(< 


(< 


" 


<< 


<< (< 


Enoch Marsh 


<< 


<( 


" 


10 


<( 


Aug 6 


Timothy Kezer 


<( 


(< 


<( 


" 


<( 


Nov 20 


Michal Bowden 


<( 


<( 


" 


8 


<< 


(< << 


William Clement 


<( 


<( 


<< 


'< 


<( 


Dec 3 


W^illiam Colby 


<( 


<( 


<< 


12 


<< 


Oct 9 


Joseph Hale 


<< 


<< 


<( 


13 


<< 


Nov 20 


Silvanus Heath 


<( 


<i 


May 


1 


<< 


" 3 


George Hadley 


« 


« 


Apl 


8 


<( 


"20 


Daniel Appleton 


<< 


<< 


June 


1 


<< 


<< << 


Jonathan Urien 




<< 


May 


2 


(< 


<< « 


Daniel Ladd Jun 


<( 


<< 


Apl 


4 


<< 


<( <( 


Ebenezer Bailey Jun 


<( 


n 


<< 


(< 


(< 


<< (C 


Jonathan Harris 


<< 


<( 




14 


killed 


Aug 8 


W^ebster Emerson 


(< 


<< 




3 


to 


Nov 20 


David Merrill 


<( 


<< 




7 


" 


<< << 


John Goss 


it 


<( 




7 


<< 


<< <( 


Peter Emerson 


<< 


<< 




14 


(< 


<( <c 


William Hutchins 


<( 


(C 




3 


" 


<C 4( 


Samuel Crowel 


<( 


<< 




14 


(( 


<< i< 


xMicah Amy 


<( 


i( 




10 


<< 


<< (< 


Daniel Corly 


<< 


(( 




13 


(( 


(< << 


John Foot 




(< 




11 


<( 


<( << 


Nathaniel Webster 




<< 




1 


<< 


(( <( 


Joseph Mooers 




<( 


Maj 


2 


<< 


" 11 


Jonathan Haselton 


" 


<( 




" 


<( 


" 13 


James Emerson-' 




<( 




(( 


(( 


" 20 


Winslow Eichardson 


i( 


<< 


<< 


<( 


(( 


(f (< 



o From James Emerson's petition to the General Court, shortly afterward, we leam that in marching 
from Crown Point to Ticonderoga, December 20, 1760, he fell through the ice, lost his pack, and narrowly 
escaped death. He was so badly frost-bitten that he was forty days in getting home, and was confined 
for thirty days after arriving home. He was "at Cape Breton, and in th« service every year since the 
beginning of the Canada expedition." 



35G 



HrSTORT OF nAVERHirt, 



In tLe rolls for 1760, we find the following from Haverliill r — 
In Capt Henry Young Brown's Company were 

entd Teb 14 to Dec 30 



" 29 
>( (( 

Mar 10 
Feb 29 



H Young Brown Capt 

John Page Serj "■ " 29 " '' 8 

Wm Farnum " 

Wm Colby Pr 

Nathaniel Moulton " 

Daniel Milliken " 

Moses Sanborn " 

Charles Hall 
In the Company of Samuel Watts, of Haverhill, 

Samuel Watts Capt ent June 10 to Jan 1 1761 

John Bayley Corp 

Francis Dinsmore Pr 
^^John Gile " 

Daniel Hibbard " 
In the Company of Nathl Bailey 

Wm Mores ent Apl 14 

Benonie "VVigans " " 7 to Dec 6 
In the Muster Boll of Capt Joseph Smith, of Kowley, from Feb 14 t» 
Dec 9, 17G0,-' were 



18 


" Dec 28 


28 


" " 2 


14 


" " 2 


27 


H It u 



Jsathan Baker Lieut 




ent 


Feb 14 


to Dec 4 


Eobert Peasley Ens 






H It 


<( n n 


John Bradley Serj 






Mar 10 


i< 4< <<^ 


William George Corp 






" 31 


" " " 


Edmund Black Private 




Feb 29 


<i (1 << 


Ezra Cottle 


tt 




Mar 31 


H <( « 


David Clemens 


it 




Apl 14 


it << 14 


Bcnja Durgan, 


<< 




Mar 8 


i( « «. 


Benja Davis (dead) 


<( 




Apl 14 


" Oct 10 


Moses Duston 


>» 


<( 


Feb 29 


" Dec 4 


David Eaton 


«( 




Mario 


<< <( t( 


Eichard Emerson 


<( 




(i <( 


(< t( ft 


Nathaniel Eaton 


(1 




<< ' IC 


<( «< (( 


David Famom (dead) 


K 




Feb 29 


" Dec 12 


Sampson French 


X 




Apl 8 


n (( 4 


Timothy George 


<< 




Mar 31 


<< (< 4 


John Hazclton 


<< 




" 10 


<< <i <( 


William Hutchins 


- << 




<( i( 


<( <( (< 



° This was a " Batteaux Company." 



357 

Joseph Kimball 

Jonathan Kimball 

Daniel Ladd 

Henry Maxfield 

David Merrel 

Edward Ordaway 

James Pearson 

James Rix 

Eichard Simons 

Ezekiel Stone 

Joshua Trussell " " " «' " " " 

The following is a list of the Haverhill names in the Muster Koll of 
Captain Edmund Mooers' Company, dated " from Nov 2, 1759 to January 
7, 1761." 

Edmund Mooers, Capt, entered Nov 2, 1759, to Feb 1, 1761 



HISTORY 


OF 


HAVERHILL. 






Private 


ent 


Mar 10 


to 


Dec 4 


1 






Feb 29 




II <{ 


<< 






Mar 27 




" 5 


II 






Feb 29 




II 4 


11 






Mar 13 




II If 


T 






" 10 




K l( 


II 






" 10 




11 <f 


11 






Feb 29 




II II 


<< 






Feb 29 




Jan 10 


11 






Mar 10 


II 


Dec 4 



William Greenleaf, Lieut 
Daniel Griffin 
Timothy Johnson 
Samuel Middleton 
William Mwood 
William Clements, 
William Cook 
James Cook 
Benja Emory 
Phillip Emerson 
Benja Fowls 
Sampson French 
Daniel Greenleaf 
Joseph Hutchins 
George Hadley 
Joshua Heath 
Benja Hunkina 
Eben Kimball 
Jos Orsilliway 
William Page 
Michael Page 
Winslow Richardson 
James Scammon 
Jackson West 
Philbrook Colby 



Jan 12 
" 2 
" 12 



" Jan 17 
II II 5 

II II 12 



12 



17 
12 



358 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

In the return of enlistments for 1760, we find Josiah Ingraham, Samuel 
Steward, Timothy Kimball, John Jakish, James AVebster. The above 
enlisted between March Gth and April 9th, 1760. 

In the Muster EoU of Captain Thomas Swett's company, March 19th, 
1761, we find 

Henry Marshall, entered June 14, Dischd Dec 8. 
In that of Captain Aaron Fay's company : — 

John White, entered Apl 25, Dischgd June 14. 
In that of Captain David White's company : — 

Solomon Grage, entered May 9, Dischgd Nov 24. 
In Captain Nathaniel Bailey's company, were 

Joshua Perrey Serjt (dead) from Mar 10 to Sept 15 
Abel Hadley Corp " Apl 14 " Dec 6 

Joseph Atwood Private " Mar 10 " " " 

Jona Barker " " ' " 24 ", " 

In the fall of 1760, the Collector of this town was allowed the rates of 
the following persons, who " were gone into his Majesties Sarvice." 

Joseph Oselway, Joseph Springer, William Page, 

Timothy Johnson, David Chalice, Mickel Page, 

Benjamin Hunkings, G-ideon Chalice, Elias Johnson, 

In the " Pay Roll of Capt Mooers' Company from Apl 8, 1761, to Jan 
1, 1762," we find 



Edmund Mooers, Capt, 


from Apl 18 


to 


Jan 1 


Nathan Baker Lieut 


<< 


<( (( 


<( 


Dec 7 


John White, Ensign 




<< <( 


(( 


Nov 17 


William Atwood Serjt 


<< 


July 1 


<( 


Dec 7 


Charles Hall, Drummer 




June 29 


<( 


" 6 


Edmund Black, Private 


<( 


9 


(( 


" 7 


William Cook 


(( 


" 12 


(( 


<< (( 


Thomas Corser " 


<( 


June 13 


<< 


It << 


Samuel Corser " 


" 


July 9 


<( 


<( <( 


Joseph Emerson " 




" 15 


(( 


Nov 17 


James Emerson " 


." 


May 29 


(( 


<i ii 


W'ebster Emerson " 




June 23 


<( 


Dec 7 


Nathaniel Eaton " 




July 19 


<< 


<( (( 


George Hadley " 


<< 


May 12 


(< 


Nov 17 


Zechh Humcrford " 


<( 


July 1 


<' 


Dec 7 


Negro Jack (Servt 










Edmd Mooers) " 


(< 


♦' 21 


i( 


<< (< 


Jonathan Simonds " 


<( 


1 


(< 


<( <( 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



859 



David Wells Private from June 26 to Dec 7 
Nathaniel Ash " " Aug 22 deserted. 

In the Pay Poll of Captain Henry Young Brown' s'- company for April, 
1761, to February, 1762, were the following: — 

Hy Yg Brown, Capt, from Apl 18, 1761 to Feby 7, 1762 



James Scammon, Serjt 
John Bradley " 

Jacob Brown Corp 
Wm Clement 
Saml Middleton " 
Ezra Gatchell Drumer 
Samuel Annis Private 
Phinehas Ash " 
Benj Dow " 

Jno Moody Gilman." 
Job Gage " 

Nathaniel Gilman " 
William Guye " 
Asa Hanniford " 
David Heath " 

David Kimball " 
Timothy Kimball " 
Daniel Levett " 

John McKissich " 
Peter Middleton " 
Hezh Marsh " 

David Moody " 
Henry Maxfield " 
Elipha Maxfield " 
Oliver Page " 

Francis Perry " 
Wm Wilks Perry " 
John Eowe " 

Eeuben Sergeant " 
Simn Smith " 

Eichd Simons " 
Frans Whittier " 



May 4 
Apl 29 
May 1 

" 4 

" 28 

" 18 

1 

Apl 23 

May 4 

" 1 

" 7 

" 6 

" 1 

" 29 

" 22 

" 4 

" 11 

" 29 

:' 1 

" 16 

June 2 

May 6 

" 11 

" 4 

" 7 

Apl 29 

May 29 
Apl 24 
May 11 

" 16 



" Jany 6 

" Dec 13 

" Jan 11 

" " 6 

" " 6 

" " 6 



10 
6 



Dec 
Jan 



" Nov 24 
" Jan 6 



13 
6 



Dec 13 



o Captain Brown served through the whole war, and with such acceptance, that in 1770, the General 
Court granted him eleven thousand acres of land on Saco River, — where, we believe, he settled, and his 
descendants still reside. 



May 7 


u w X 


" 3 


" " 18 


<< <( 


" " 23 


Mar 19 


" Jan 1 


" 17 


" Nov 18 


May 7 


1— 1 



360 HISTOET OI" HAVERHILt,. 

Jackson West " from May 4 1761 to Dec 13 1672 
Benja AVeed " " " ♦' " " " " ' " 

Nathl West " " "11 " " Jan 7 " 

Nathl Weed " " " 7 " " Dec 13 " 

In the Pay Roll of Captain Moses Parker's Company (Chelmsford) were 
Levi Cottle Private from May 12 to Jany 10 
Jesse Turrell " " Mar 19 " Nov 1 

Moses Sanborn " " May 3 " " " 

In the Pay lioll of Henry Young Brown's'' Company from March 4, 
1762, to November 30, 1762, we find 

Moses Grcenough, Serjt, from March 17 to Nov 18 
Jacob Brown • " " " " " •' " 
Samuel Annis Private " 
Eichard Colby " " 

Wm Colby " " 

Wm Cook " ,' 

Isaac Colby " " 

Moses Dusten " " 

In the Pay Roll of Captain John Nixon's Company, from July 1, 1762, 
to January 7, 1763, were 

John White, Ensign, from July l*to Nov 29 
James Emerson private " " " " " 23 
, Joseph Emerson " " " " " " " 

Samuel Middleton " " " " " " " 

From the foregoing lists of names, it will be seen that Haverhill fur- 
nished its full proportion of soldiers during the whole of this war. AVe 
regret that we cannot give more definite information in regard to the names 
and number of those killed, wounded, or captured, but the meagreness of 
the records as to individual histories, and the time which has elapsed since 
the occurrences took place, have put it beyond our power to do so. We 
have no doubt that other persons from this town, besides those whose 
names we have given, were in the service ; but, as the place of residence 
or enlistment is not always given in the rolls, and as it frequently hap- 
pened that persons of the same name, but from diff"erent towns, were found 
in those lists where the residence was given, we have found it impossible 
to obtain a more perfect list. As a specimen of the imperfection of the 
records, we may cite the fact, that although Dr. James Brickett of this 

o Middle names nre very seldom met with previous to 1730, and from that time they increased slowly 
until about 1780, when they were consiOered "fashionable." Captain Brown was one of the first Haver- 
hill men we find thus honored. 



HISTORY OF HAYERHILl. 861 

town was in Colonel Frye's regiment, as surgeon's mate, from March 30, 
1759, to July 30, 1760, yet we do not find bis name in any of the rolls, 
and were it not for his petition in 1761, for his pay, we should hardly 
have known that he was in the service at all. 
46 



563 nisTORY OP nAVERniLL. 



CHAPTEE XXII. 

THE REVOLUTION. 1765 TO 1783. 



Although the war with France had resulted in the expulsion of the 
latter from all their possessions in the northern part of America, it had 
been carried on at a vast expense, and had added largely to the national 
debt of England. To relieve it from future embarrassments of this sort, 
the scheme was suggested of raising a revenue in America. The first act 
in this direction was the revival of the sugar act, in 1764. This placed a 
duty on sugar, molasses, coffee, wines, &c., of foreign production, and 
required that the proceeds of the tax should be paid into the treasury of 
England. 

An act laying duties on some of these articles had existed since 1733, ■ 
but had never been rigidly enforced. But now instructions were given to 
the officers of the customs to enforce the law rigidly. This action led to a 
discussion of the right of parliament to tax the colonies. James Otis 
wrote a pamphlet, in which he denied the right ; and the House of Eep- 
resentatives of Massachusetts took the same side of the question. Boston 
instructed her representatives to use their exertions to procure a repeal of 
the act. The discussion of this question developed such bold views of 
independency as to alarm the British ministry, and the measures they 
adopted only tended to widen the breach. 

On the 22d of March, the " Stamp Act" was passed, to go into effect 
on the first of the November following. This act required the people of 
the American Colonies, in all their legal and mercantile transactions, to 
use papers stamped with the Koyal Seal. It was spiritedly opposed, how- 
ever, by the Colonies, especially in Boston, where the inhabitants collected 
and assaulted the house of Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson, who was a 
warm friend of the act. In other places, the bells were tolled, and effigies 
of the stamp-officers were burnt. So strong was the excitement, that 
every stamp-officer throughout the country, unable to resist the public 
opinion, resigned his commission, and when the time arrived for the act to 
go into operation, there were neither stamped papers to be found, nor offi« 
cers to execute the act. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 363 

The feeling in this town may be judged by the following proceedings of 
a meeting specially warned a few days before the act was to go into opera- 
tion : — 

At a meeting of the town, October 14th, 1765, called " To see what 
Instructions the Town will give to their Eepresentative Eclating to the 
stamp act & Excise act ; or Concerning anything else as they shall Judge 
jDroper," &c., "the following Eesolves and Instructions were considered 
and voted : Whereas some matters of great Importance to this" Town & 
province In general are likely to Come under Consideration at the next 
sitting of our great and general Court ; it is therefore thought proper at 
this Critical Juncture to draw up and give our representative Coll Salton- 
stall some special Instructions & resolves & to lodge a Copy of them In 
our Cleark's office : 

As the time prefixed by act of parliment is neare when these much des- 
puted & oppressive Stamped papers were required; when our navigation. 
Courts of Justice, &c may not be carrycd on without them ; & the offend- 
ers against said act be subjected to a Court of admiralty ; unless it be 
repealed of which we have no certain account, it is resolved that we Es- 
teem it our Indspencable duty to pay a due regard to all the Legall 
Injunctions of our King & parliment ; & to duly resent all arbitrary Im- 
positions ; & to declare that we think the Stamp act to be unconstitutional ; 
which with the Extensive power lately granted to Courts of admiralty are 
great Infriugments upon our rights and privilcdgcs ; & that they wei*e un- 
justly obtained by reason of wrong Information ; and recommend it to our 
. Eepresentetive to Exert himself to the utmost of his power for the Eecov- 
ery or preservation of our Just liberties hopeing that what has & may be 
done by the several Colonies In America will convince those who preside 
at the head of affairs in our mother Country that the Stamp act & such 
Exertions of power would not only ruin their Colonys but greatly affect 
and distress trade & the manufactories in England ; & Influence them the 
Guardians of libertie to restraine the power of Courts of admiralty to pro- 
per bounds ; & to promote & procure the repeale of said act as best for the 
nation in general ; and there having been of late several rioatous assem-' 
blies within this province that committed great violence on the persons & 
Estates of Sundry persons who were suffered to destroy & pillage houses, 
&c, which require large Damages to the unhappy sufferers ; it is resolved 
that we beare Testimony against all such proceedings and Eeccommend it 
to our Eepresentetive that an act or law of the Province be made require- 
ing that all the like Damages by any such rioutous assemblies then or 
hereafter shall be satisfied & paid agreeable to the laws of England by the 



364 HiSTOBY or haverhill. 

Town whare permitted to be done & not by the province in general ; It is 
also Kesolved that our llcprescntetive use his Influence that there be no 
Excise on Tea Coffie &c for the future ; Resolved that he use his Influence 
that Excise be taken off" from the private Consumption of Liquers ; and 
that it "be not more then four pence on the Gallon to Licensed persons 
and that he use his Influence for taking of the oath Respecting other Grov- 
ernments money or bills of the other Governments." 

There could be no mistaking the spirit and meaning of the American 
people in this matter, and the British government hastened to repeal the 
obnoxious act. 

In July, 1766, Governor "Wentworth, of New Hampshire, was appointed 
by the King " Surveyor General of all his Majesty's woods in North 
America," for the purpose of putting into execution the acts of parliament 
concerning the preservation of " the King's woods from trespass & waste." 
By these acts, all white pine trees from fifteen to thirty-six inches in 
diameter, were reserved for the royal navy, and any owner of land, before 
he commenced cutting, was under the necessity of employing a deputy 
surveyor to mark the trees upon his land, reserved for the use of the king, 
and if he neglected to have his land thus surveyed, either fronl inability 
to pay for such survey, or other cause, and proceeded to cut his timber, 
the same was forfeited to the king ! In this way, whole mill-yards of 
lumber, got out by the settlers for building their houses, and barns, were 
often forfeited. Seizures were made in all parts of the Province, wherever 
the pine abounded, and mills had been erected. Samuel Blodget, of Goff's- 
town, was appointed, in February, 1773, deputy surveyor for thirty-one 
towns in the province of New Hampshire, and the towns of Haverhill, 
Andover, Dracut, Chelmsford, and Ipswich, in the province of Massachu- 
setts Bay. 

The seizures and proceedings under this law of parliament, tended 
greatly to aggravate the people wherever such proceedings were had, and 
fostered the deep-seated feeling of discontent. 

AVhile the colonies were resting from the agitation into which they had 
been thrown by the past acts of the British parliament, that body was pre- 
paring new causes of excitement. England could not yet relinquish her 
scheme of raising a revenue in America, and besides passing an act laying 
duties on glass, painter's colors, tea, and paper, she passed another, assert- 
ing a right " to make laws of sufficient force and validity to bind the 
colonies in all cases whatsoever," and established a board of commissioners 
for the management of the customs in America. 



HISTORY O'E HAVERHILL. 365 

The passage of these acts occasioned at first no violent outbreaks, like 
those which followed the stamp act, but rather a firm determination of the 
people to abstain from the use of the dutiable articles, and to encourage, 
by every means, domestic manufactures of every kind. But the strict 
execution of the revenue act, at length produced new mobs and riots in the 
seaport towns, which led the government to call to its support a naval and 
military force. 

At this juncture, Samuel Adams drew up a remonstrance against the 
revenue act, which was read in the House of Kepresentatives, and after 
being debated several days ; " Seven times revised ; every word weighed ; 
every sentence considered ; " it was adopted to be sent to the agent at 
Court, and to be published to the world as expressing the unchangable 
opinion of Massachusetts. A proposition was then made and adopted, to 
lay these proceedings before the other colonies, that, " if they thought fit, 
they might join them," and a masterly circular, also draughted by Adams, 
was accepted. The latter circular reached England in , April, (1768) and 
was at once denounced as of a " most dangerous and factious tendency," 
and the General Court was ordered to rescind their resolutions, upon pain 
of dissolution by the Governor. The message of the Governor, conveying 
this order, was read in the House once, and ordered to a second reading in 
the afternoon, when the clarion voice of Otis rang through the hall in a 
masterly speech of two hours in length, setting forth his objections to 
a compliance with the rec[uisition. 

For a full week the affi.iir was in suspense. At length, the Governor 
demanded a definite answer. The House asked a recess, to consult their 
constituents : — it was refused. Upon this, the question was taken vii-a 
voce ; and out of one hundred and nine votes cast, only seventeen were in 
the afiirmative ! In accordance with his instructions, the Governor there- 
upon dissolved the Court, and thus Massachusetts was without a legisla- 
ture. 

Soon after, (September 1st) a town meeting was called in this town, 
"to see if the town approves of the proceedings of the late House of 
Representatives in not Eescinding; " and on its being put to vote, " The 
thanks of the town were voted to the Gentlemen of the house of Repre- 
sentatives for their firmness in defending the liberties of the people." 

On the 8th of September, information was received that a body of troops 
had been ordered to Boston, and, almost immediately, a town meeting, the 
great engine of those days, was summoned in Boston. This meeting 
recommended that a convention of committees from all the towns in the 



366 HISTORY OF HATERHILL. 

province should be held at Fancuil Hall, to concert and advise such meas- 
ures as the public peace and safety required. This proposition met a 
hearty respouse from the principal towns in the province. 

In this town, at a meeting specially warned for that purpose, (Septem- 
ber 20) " Samuel Bachellor was chosen as a Committee Man to Joyu in a 
Convention' with a Committee of this province held in the Town of Boston 
on the twenty second day of September Instant ; to consult advise and 
act; as his majesties sarvice and the peace and safety of his subjects in 
this province may Eequire." 

" As a principal Instruction to Mr Samuel Bach eller, voted that the 
king's troops should not be hindered their landing by force of arms ; 

" Further voted that Mr Bacheller be Directed in Every Constitutional 
way & manner Consistent with our Loyalty to our Gracious Sovereign ; to 
oppose & prevent the Levying or Collecting of money from us not granted 
by our selves or our Legal Eepresentatives." 

The result of the convention was a calm enumeration of grievances, 
strong professions of loyalty, and a discountenancing of all tumultous ex- 
pressions of the feelings. 

On the 28th of the same month, two regiments arrived in Boston, and 
landed about one thousand men without opposition. But both the General 
Court and the town of Boston refused to furnish the troops with quarters 
or supplies, although the Oovcrnor repeatedly applied to them for that pur- 
pose. 

The continuance of the troops in Boston was a constant source of vexa- 
tion to the people, as difficulties were often occurring between the 
inhabitants and the soldiers. 

The merchants of Boston, after vainly endeavoring to have the duties 
on goods removed, renewed an obligation formerly made, to import no 
more goods, unless the revenue law should be repealed, and recommended 
that the inhabitants of the province should not purchase goods from those 
who violated the agreement. 

The collision between the British troops and the inhabitants of Boston, 
on the 5th of March, 1770, was the signal for renewed manifestations of 
determined resistance to the odious laws ; and a meeting of this town was 
soon after called, to consider what course should be pursued by the inhabi- 
tants in the critical emergency. The following is a copy of the whole 
record of the meeting : — 

" At a Lcgall Town Meeting In Haverhill on April 9 : 1770 warned by 
the Constable by virtue of a warrant received from the Selectmen for his 
BO doing &c : 



BISTORT OF HATERHILL. 367 

Istly To see if the Town will vote something respecting the importers 
or the Importing British Goods Contrary to the agreement of murchcnts 
In General or with respect to the late resolve about them : 

2clly To see if tht) Town will vote something with respect to those who 
shall or may purchest such Goods or promote the bringing them Into this 
Town or what they will otherwise Eesolve : 

3dly To see if the Town will Chuse a Committee to see that all Salu- 
tary Eesovles and agreements about such Goods be Duly observed and to 
give notice and Expose all such persons who shall violate them." 

Mr. Nathaniel Walker was chosen Moderator. 

"Voted, That we will by all LawfuU ways & means Exert ourselves 
and Expose to shame & Contempt all persons who shall offer to make sale 
of British Goods Imported Conterary to the agreement of marchents or 
that shall purchase such Goods In this Town or be aiding or assisting to 
bring them Into it, till a General Importation of such Goods shall take 
place and that all persons who shall violate or Counter act this vote and 
resolve shall be I'cndered Incapable of being Chosen to any of&ce of proffit 
or Hoaouer in tliis Town. 

Voted, That Messrs Thomas West, Deac John Aycr, Capt William 
Greenleaf, Nathaniel Peaslec Sargent Esq, Nathaniel Walker, John Young, 
and James Carr, be a Committee to Inspect and see that all salutary re- 
solves and agreements with respect to such Goods be Duly obsarvcd and to 
Give Notice & Expose all who shall violate them ; that their names m;iy 
be remembered with Infamy ; and to have the Custety and keeping of all 
such goods stored dureing said Term. 

Voted the thanks of this Town to the truly patriotic marchants who 
have acted with firm resolutions for preventing the Importation of British 
goods for the good of their Country tho much to their private loss and to 
the Town of Boston and the several Towns In this province & Else whare 
which have by their spirited resolves prevented the sale of British Goods 
lately Imported In the principle Towns & places in the Colonies. 

Voted that the proceedings of this meeting shall be published in one or 
more of the public news papers. 

The Moderator dismissed the meeting." 

Such thorough and determined opposition to the odious laws, induced 
parliament to modify them, as far as it could without relinquishing its right 
to legislate over the colonies. In this view, they rescinded the duties upon 
all articles except tea. 

■ The General Court, which had heretofore met in Boston, was, by " a 
signification of the King's pleasure," convened at Cambridge, on the loth 



S68 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

of March, 1770. This \c^ to a long controversy between the Governor 
and the Legislature, the latter protesting against the removal, and Avell- 
nigh resolving not to proceed to the transaction of business uifless they 
were removed to the ancient place of sitting — "at the town house in 
Boston." 

Such was the situation of affairs in September, when this town sent the 
following letter of instructions to its Eepresentativc : — ■ 

" Instructions given to Mr Bachellor, Eepresentative 

Sr. 

Understanding that in times past you have voted against the General 
Assembly's proceeding to business as they are not allowed to meet in the 
Town of Boston we your Constituents think it our Duty to give our opinion 
relative to that Important matter ; & Important it is considering the pre- 
sent state of our Interlal polity ; the expiration of the laws for regulating 
fees; Choice of -Jury men; restraining Excessive usury ; are some of the 
matters that need Imeadiate redress. The operation at this time of the law 
for Limitation of actions whereby much of our property lies wholly at the 
mercy of Debtors is a grievance that almost every person In the province 
is affected with ; and finally an Exorbitant Tax laid on the province this 
year ; will nearly render the misery of those of our fellow subjects who 
are now struggling with poverty Compleat ; these things & many others 
might be mentioned ; we think are more than a ballance for any little In- 
convenientcy that may arise by means of the General Court setting out of 
Boston ; wee know that some years past it was opinion of many that the 
Court setting In Boston was an Inconveniencie ; and the General Coiirt ■ 
refusing still to Do Business will be detrimental only to the province ; not 
to those by whose Influence it was removed ; we therefore now Exercising 
our Constitusanel right advise and Intruet you to give your vote & use 
your whole Influance that the general Court should at their next sessions 
act upon the Business of the province ; & afford us all Due release from the 
Grievences above mentioned as well as any others that may be : this we 
' xpect from you as our Eepresentative & wish you success in your 
endeavours.-' 

Mr Samuel Bachellor EejDresentative for the Town of Haverhill," 

Slowly, but surely, the people of the colonies were led, or rather driven, 
toward open revolt. The embarrassments of the East India Company 
hastened the final struggle. Through mismanagement, and the continued 

o The meeting at Trhich these instractions were agreed upon, was held September 20, 1770. 



HISTORY OF HAVEEHllI.. 369 

^eFusal of America to import their teas, — whicli were thus thrown "back 
tipon them in great quantities, — they were on the verge of bankruptcy, 
and applied to parliament for relief. 

A loan was granted them, accompanied by a bill empowering them to 
export teas direct from their own warehouses, upon their own account, and 
granting them a drawback of the whole duty payable in England on such 
teas as were exported to the British plantations in America. The colonial 
tax of three pence on the pound was still to be paid ; nor would Lord 
North listen to the proposal that this should be abandoned. America was 
not to bs relieved from taxation. The king was determined " to try the 
question in America," — -and he did trt/ it, but did not decide it. 

Cargoes of the tea were sent to New York, Philadelphia, and Boston, 
At the two former places, the consignees resigned their trust; but in 
Boston they declined doing so, whereupon the inhabitants, in public meet- 
ing, voted, " that the tea shall not be landed, that no duty shall be paid, 
and that it shall be sent back in the same bottom." Seven thousand per- 
sons were present at the meeting, and yet the vote was unanimous ! The 
owner of one of the vessels containing the tea had already promised that 
it should not be landed, but should be returned, but had been refused a 
clearance. He was instructed " to protest against the custom house, and 
apply to the governor for his .pass-" But the Governor had stolen to his 
residence at Milton, and before the owner returned, darkness had settled 
upon the town. Within the dimly lighted walls of the "Old South," 
upon this cold December eve, the audience awaited his return. At a quar- 
ter before six he made his appearance, and reported that the Governor* 
had refused him a pass. *' We can do no more to save the country," said 
Samuel Adams ; and a momentary silence ensued. The next instant a 
shout was heard at the door ; the war-whoop sounded ; and forty or fifty 
men, disguised as Indians, hurried along to the wharf, posted guards, 
boarded the ships, and in three hours' time three hundred and forty-two 
-chests of tea had been broken and thrown overboard. So great was the 
stillness that the blows of the hatchets, as the chests were split open, was 
distinctly heard, and when the deed was done, every one retired and the 
town wore its accustomed quiet. 

The die was now cast. It was impossible to recede. When, upon the 
news reaching England, it was proposed to pass conciliatory measures, 
Mansfield exclaimed, " The sword is drawn, and you must throw away the 
scabbard ; " and besides voting, one hundred and eighty-two to forty-nine, 
against the repeal of the tax on tea, a bill was carried for " the better 

o Hutchinson. 

47 



370 HISTORY OF HAVERniLt. 

regulating the government of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay," 
■which abrogated so much of the charter as gave to the legislature the 
election of the council ; abolished town meetings, except for the choice of 
town officers, or on the special permission of the governor ; conferred on 
the executive the appointment and removal of sheriffs at pleasure ; and in- 
trusted to the sheriffs the returning of juries ; — a bill " for the impartial 
administration of justice," &c., which transferred the place of trial of 
magistrates, revenue officers, or soldiers indicted for murder, or other capi- 
tal offence, to Nova-Scotia or Great Britain ; — and a bill for legalizing 
the quartering of troops in Boston. Governor Hutchinson was re-called, 
and Thomas Gage appointed in his stead, and four regiments were ordered 
to enforce submission. l5y his instructions, the governor was to close the 
port of Boston, 

General Gage arrived at Boston on the 17th of May, (1774) and on the 
appointed day, (June 1st) as the clock struck twelve, the port was closed, 
and the courts were suspended, amid the solemn tolling of bells. The day 
was improved, not only in Massachusetts, but even in Virginia, and other 
colonies, in fasting and prayer. 

Satisfied that the time had come when a union of the colonies was ab- 
solutely necessary, the House of Eepresentatives, by a vote of one hundred 
and seventeen to twelve, decided that " a committee should be appointed 
to meet, as soon as may be, the committees that are or shall be appointed by 
the several colonies on this continent, to consult together upon the present 
state of the colonies." The committee was chosen, and funds provided 
for their expenses. This was on the 17th of June. On the 28th of July, 
notwithstanding the new law to the contrary, a town meeting was held in 
this town, the proceedings of which we think justify an insertion of the 
full record in this place. 

" At a legal Town meeting held in Haverhill on July 28th 1774, warned 
by the Constable by virtue of a "Warrant Eeceived from the Selectmen for 
his so doing &c 

1st For those to whom the Town is indebted, to bring in their Claims 
in order to be allowed 

2dly To see what Money the Town will Vote to Eaise to defray Town 
Charges the present Year 

3dly To Recieve the Eeport of the Committee chosen to Eeckon with the 
Town Treasurer 

4thly In answer to two Petitions from the Inhabitants of this Town, 
To see if the Town will Vote that they will not Buy or purchase any 
Goo is or Merchandise imported from Great Brittan, from and after the 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 371 

Time agreed upon by the Colonies in general, or the General Congress to 
be held at Philadelphia and not to have any Commercial Intercourse with 
them that will not come into the nonimportation agreament-:— and to Chuse 
a committee of Inspection, to inspect and find out those Men or Women 
who shall expose to Sale, Tea, or any new imported Goods, contrary to the 
general agreement, and expose their Names to the Publick : that they may 
avoid them ; and to act further on the affair as the Town shall Judge 
proper 

5thly To Chuse a Committee of Correspondence, to Correspond or con- 
sult with the Committee of the Town of Boston, & other Towns in this 
Province relating to the distressed Situation the Province in general, & 
the Town of Boston in particular is brought into by the late Acts of the 
British Parliment — to consult (if possible) of Some Measures of Redress 
— and also to Draw up a Solemn Agreement for the Inhabitants of this 
Town to Sign (if they Judge it proper) that they will not buy or purchase 
any Goods or Merchandise of any Person, which shall be imported con- 
trary to the general Agreement of the Colonies in General Congress — if 
the Town likes not that already drawn and also to act further on the whole 
Affair as the Town shall Judge proper 

6thly To see if the Town will Vote to Draw Three Pounds Nineteen 
Shillings and Ten Pence out of the Town Treasury, for the use and bene- 
fit of the Committee to meet at the general Congress, in behalf of the 
Province — and Chuse a proper Person to di*aw said Money out of 
the Treasury, by order from the Selectmen, for the Purpose above said, 
and be accountable to the Town 

7thly To see if the Town will vote to accept of some Person to serve 
as Constable in the Eoom of Mr Eichard Ayer, if he desires it 

8thly To see if the Town will vote to allow Mr John Sawyer liberty to 
erect a Scale for weighing of Hay in some convenient place in this Town. 

Mr Isaac Eedington was chosen Moderator for said Meeting. 

Voted, agreeable to the 2d Article, To Eaise One hundred and Fifty 
Pounds to defray Town Charges the present year. 

Voted, the 4th article in the affirmative — also Voted that Messrs Sam- 
uel Appleton, Samuel Souter, Thomas West, Samuel Merrill, Nathl Rolf, 
Thomas Cogswell, Doc AVilliam Bachellor, John Sawyer, and Nathaniel 
Walker Junior, be a Committee of Inspection 

5th article voted in the affirmative — also the following Resolves 

Whereas The Importation, Sale, or Consumption of East India Teas, is 
evidently counteracting the peaceable Measures which have been pursued, 
and are now pursuing, by the province in general, for the Relief of the 



372 HISTORY OP HAVERHILI> 

Town of Boston, tlie Restoration and Continuance of our Charter EigLts^ 
— and whereas it is highly probable the approaching Congress of the 
Deputjs from the respective Colonies, will come into a Determination that 
.a general Plan" for a nonimportation and nonexportation of Merchandize 
to and from Great Britain and Ireland ; will be most effectual means for 
attaining this desirable End ; and whereas it is necessary and becoming 
that every community should communicate their Sentiments and Resolu- 
tions to their Brethren at this alarming Crisis of Our public Affairs — 
Therefore 

1. Resolved, That we will not import, purchase, vend or consume any 
East India Tea, until the Duty imposed upon Importation into the Colo- 
nies shall be taken off ; & the port of Boston opened. 

2. Resolved, That we will not purchase any kind of Merchandize of 
those persons, who shall (by importing, purchasing or vending Said Tea) 
act contrary to the sense of the above Resolutions. 

3. Resolved, That we will abide by any Determination of the approach- 
ing Congress which shall be rational & generally adopted ; in particular, 
if a nonimportation and nonexportation of Merchandize to and from Great 
Britain and Ireland, and a nonconsumation Agreement, shall be their 
Determination, we will both collectively and individually abide by the 
Same. 

4. Resolved, That if a nonimportation and nonexportation of Merchan- 
dize to and from Great Britain and Ireland shall be agreed upon and 
generally adopted and any person should be so lost to every feeling of 
Humanity and Regard to posterity, as to counteract such Agreement : We 
will not purchase any kind of ]\Ierchandize of them ; and will use our 
influence to deter others from doing the same. 

5. Resolved, That there shall be a Committee of Correspondence for this 
Town to correspond with the Town of Boston, and other Towns in 
this province, and that this Committee shall consist of Five or more 
persons. 

G. Resolved, That Samuel White Esq, Mr Isaac Redington, Mr Joseph 
Haynes, Mr Richard Ayer, Mr Jonathan Webster Junior, Mr Daniel Dcn- 
nison Rogers, & Mr Timothy Eaton, be a Committee for the above purpose, 
any Four of whom when met together to proceed on business. 

7. Resolved, That there shall be a Committee of Inspection ; to Inspect 
into the Conduct and inform of those persons who shall counteract the 
above Resolutions. 



HISTORY OP HATERHILL. 373 

8. Resolved, That A. B. & C. as Eecorded under the 6th Eesolve be a 
Committee for this purpose of Inspection or Correspondence. 

9. Resolved, That the Committee of Correspondence be desired to trans- 
mit a Copy of these Ecsolutions to the Committee of Correspondence for 
the Town of Boston. 

6th article in the "Warning Voted in the affirmative, Nemine Contradi- 
ciente also voted that Mr Jonathan Webster Jun Draw out said money & 
be accountable to the Town. 

By Vote this Meeting is Adjourned to the 15th day of September next 
1774 to this Place at 3 of the Clock afternoon." 

Though there were then three companies of Militia in the town, the 
patriotic citizens determined to organize a fourth. The latter was formed 
as an '' independent " company, and it being the first one in the town, and 
organized at a time when serious work was expected, and counted on, we 
feel justified in giving a somewhat extended notice of it. 

Wc copy the following from the original paper : — 

" Haverhill Sept, 5th. 1774. 

"\Ye the Subscribers, sensible of the importance of a well regulated 
Military Discipline, do hereby covenant and engage, to form ourselves in to 
an Artillery Company at Haverhill according to the following Articles, — 

First. That there shall be four officers (viz) a Capt., Lieut, Ensign and 
Sergeant, who is to act as Clerk, To be chosen by a majority of the Com- 
pany when met together, 

2d. That we will meet together (on the first and third Mondays of 
September, October and November following, and on the first and third 
Mondays of the six Summer months annually til the Company shall agree 
to dissolve the same) for the exercise of Arms and Evolutions, And that 
the role shall be called two hours before Sunset, and the Company shall be 
dismissed at Sun set N. B. If it be fowl weather the Day appointed, the 
Company shall meet the next fair Day — 

3dly. Any one neglecting Due attendance shall be subject to a fine of 
eight Pence, for the use of the Company ; unless on a reasonable Plea, 
excused by the Company, 

4thly. That no new member be admitted without the vote of the 
Company, 

5thly. That each member shall be Equiped with Arms, Accoutriments 
and Dress, according to Vote of Company, 

6thly. That each member shall be supply 'd with one Pound of Powder 
and Twenty Balls ; to be reviewed twice a year ; upon the Days of chusing 



374 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



OflGicers, to commence tlie first Monday in October, from that time, the first 
Monday in May and August annually, 



James Brickett, 
William Greenleaf, 
Nathaniel Marsh, 
Phineas Carleton, 
Oliver Pcahody, 
Joshua B. Osgood, 
Thomas Cogswell, 
Israel Bartlet, 
Jonathan Barker, 
Isaac . 



James Duncap junr, 
John Cook, 
John Wingate, 
Bailey Bartlett, 
Daniel Greenleaf, 
Paul Thomson, 
Eben. Greenough, 
James Harrod, 
Samuel Greenleaf, 
Moses Clements junr, 
Timothy Eaton junr, 
D W, D N Kogers, 



Edward Barnard, 
Benj. Mooersjunr., 
"William Greenough, 
Daniel Kenrich, 
David Marsh junr, 
Samuel Duncan, 
Enoch Marsh, 
Thomas West, 
William Lamson, 
John Sawyer," 



Daniel Appleton, 
Abraham Swett, 

The first meeting of the subscribers was held the same day the agree- 
ment is dated, when James Brickett was chosen Captain, and Israel 
Bartlett Clerk, of the company. They voted to meet twice each week for 
drill, — one hour before sunset. October 3d, the organization was com- 
pleted, by the choice of Doctor James Brickett, Captain ; Israel Bartlett, 
Lieutenant ; Joshua B. Osgood, Ensign ; and Edward Barnard, Clerk and 
Sargeant. November 12th, it was " Voted, that this company look upon 
themselves to be an Independent Corps ; also upon their Officers to be 
equal in Bank and Command to Field Officers, of any Eegiment in this 
County, and subject to the Command of no officer, but such as the Field 
Officers of the several Kegiments are subject to." November 21st, the 
company " voted to use the exercise as ordered by His Majesty in the year 
17G4-." Several of the members immediately sent to England for a copy 
of the " Norfolk Militia Book," which arrived in due time. The work cost 
them £G.15. The names of those who thus manifested their zeal in the 
pursuit of correct military knowledge, were " Bailey Bartlett, Israel Bart- 
lett, Thos Cogswell, Nathl Marsh, Doctr Brickett, Nathl Walker." 

The following extracts from the records of the company are worth pre- 
serving, (November 21, 1774,) : — 

" Voted, to meet Mondays, at 6 o'clk in the evening, pi-ccisely, for the 
above purpose. Voted, to pay a fine of 6d for non-appearance. Voted, 
that we meet once a week (Mondays) as Volunteers. Voted, that the 
Clerk provide candles for the use of the Company out of the fines. Voted, 
that N Saltonstall, D Marsh, J McHard, & John Sawyer be of this 
Company." 

"Dec 5 1774. Met at Jlr Osgood's Still house. Voted, that the Offi- 
cers of this Company shall not assist in choosing the Field Officers of the 
Regiment." 



Distort op hateehill. S75 

"Jan 1775. Met at Mr West's Distill House. Voted, ttat any Mem- 
"ber who shall leave the Company before he is discharged by the Command- 
ing Officer, shall pay a fine of 4d. 

" Feb. Met at Mr West's Distill House. Voted, that we hire Mr 
George Marsdin for 4 days at 12s a day, & that he be paid out of the finca. 

" March 21, 1775. Met at Capt Greenleaf 's. Voted, that Nathan 
Blodget and Heman Ladd be admitted as members of this Company. 
Voted, that we Dress in a Uniform consisting of a Blue Coat, turned up 
with Buff, and yellow plain Buttons, the Coit cut half way the thigh ; 
and the Pockets a Slope. Voted, Also, that we have Buff, or Naiikeen 
Waistcoat & Breeches, and White Stockings with half Boots or Gaiters. 
Also that the Hats be cocked alike. And that each one have a bright gun, 
Bayonet, & Steel Eamrod. Voted that the Company be equipd in this 
' Uniform by the first Monday in May."--' 

"May 1st. Made choice of Edw Barnard as Clerk. Voted, that Wil- 
liam Greenleaf be Capt of this Company — that Israel Bartlett be Lieut. 
Voted, that N Marsh be Ensign of this Company. Voted, that the Clerk 
act as Sargeant." 

" May 18th. Met on the Parade. Voted, that we meet on Mondays at 
sunrise for Exercise of Arms." 

" May 24th. Voted, to meet Sun an hour high for the future." 

The above is the last vote entered in the record book as that of the 
Artillery company. The first entry upon the next page is " Becords of 
the first Company in Haverhill." This is followed by the records of that 
company, and we find no subsequent allusion to the artillery company. 
In the records of the first company, we find the names of most of the pre- 
vious members of the artillery company. These facts, with the absence of 
record or reliable information to the contrary, lead us to the conclusion 
that the heavy drafts and constant activity and readiness required of the 
militia, (to which, of course, every member of the artillery also belonged, 
by law,) led to the necessity of a disbandment of the latter. Whether it 
was afterward resuscitated, or not, we cannot say.f 

On the 15th of September, (1774) the town again met, agreeably to the 
previous adjournment. The first vote passed, was to lay an additional 

* Though organized under the name of an Artillery Company, they never had any artillery, but were 
strictly a Company of Light Infantry. 

t In 1783, there were "four companies in Haverhill." These four companies were divided into "two 
Bands," viz.: the Training, or "Train Band," and the "Alarm List." An allusion to "both bands," in 
the records of 1776, was probably the occasion of the statement by Mirick, that there were then but two 
companies in the town.' He was evidently mistaken, as there had been for many years three companiea 
of militia in the town. 



S76 HISTORY Ot HAVERHILt,. 

town tax of one hundred pounds for the present year. They nfext '* voted 
to buy 800 lbs powder with Balls and Flints answerable, as the Towns 
Stock." Then it was " voted that the Town Trcasux'er hire money to pro- 
cure GOO lbs of powder towards the Town's Stock ; " and, that nothing 
should be wanting in the time of need, a committee was chosen " to ex- 
amine the stock of jpwder in the powder house." Having thus unequivo- 
cally committed the town to the cause of American liberty, the meeting 
adjourned to the 10th of October. 

The proceedings at the adjournment were brief, but significant. The 
following was the only business done, or vote passed ; — 

" By Vote the Constables are to pay no more Money into the Province 
Treasury until further Orders from the Town — but that They pay it im- 
mediately to the Town Treasurer; and take his Security, for the Same 
without Interest." 

While the almost universal sentiment of the inhabitants of the town was 
that indicated by their proceedings at these meetings, there were a few 
among them who did not sympathize with them. They were " Loyalists," 
— those who Udhered to the cause of their sovereign, — and deprecated 
the revolutionary measures so vigorously carried on by the "Patriots;" 
and while they doubted their success, they hoped (and some of them 
labored also) for their defeat. Among the most prominent and influential 
of these loyalists in this town, were Colonel Richard Saltonstall and Ecv. 
Moses Badger, (brother-in-law of the above). Colonel Saltonstall was a 
man who had always commanded the confidence and respect of his towns- 
men, and the esteem of all who knew him. At the early age of twenty- 
two years, he was commissioned as Colonel, and was in active service 
through the whole of the French "War. But he was now a loyalist, and, 
as a consequence, there could be but little sympathy between him and the 
large majority of the people of the town. This wide difi'erence of opinion, 
upon what was then a matter of the most vital importance, as may readily 
be supposed, gradually led to a feeling of coldness toward him, and finally 
to that of distrust, and uneasiness at his presence. Sometime not long 
after the July meeting above noticed, an incident occurred which is thus 
recorded by Mirick : — 

" The principles of Col. Eichard Saltonstall, who was a Tory, were 
very repugnant to the Whig party, which composed a majority of the voters. 
A party from the West Parish, and Salem, New-Hampshire, collected 
before his house, armed with clubs and other instruments, to mob him ; 
but he made them rather ashamed of their conduct. He came to the door, 
and with much dignity, told them his reasons for pursuing a different 



HISTORY OP HAVEEHILt. 877 

course from tliat whicli they bad adopted. He ordered refreshments for 
tliem, and requested them to go to the tavern and call for entertainment 
at his expense. They accepted of his invitation, and huzzaed to his 
praise. He soon after went to England, to escape the resentment of the 
Whigs, where he was well received by his connexions." 

This account is, in substance, taken from the " Sketch of Haverhill," 
a paper prepared and read before the Massachusetts Historical Society, in 
1816, by Leverett Saltonstall, Esq., and is, we think, a partial account of 
the affair. 

It is a tradition in the family of Timothy Eaton, who was the leader of 
the party that called on Colonel Saltonstall, that the bold and unpatriotic 
words and actions of the latter, had become so obnoxious to the public 
opinion of the town, that a large party was made up to call on him, and 
notify him that such was the case. They went, and Mr. Eaton, leaving 
his company a short distance from the house, called the Colonel to the 
door, and informed him of his errand. Upon this, the Colonel "drew 
himself up " and exclaimed, " Is that any of your business ? " Eaton 
quickly replied, " I'll let you know that it is my business," and was about 
retiring to his companions, when the Colonel, finding that the affair was 
like to terminate seriously, dropped his lofty air, held a parley, promised 
to give them no more cause for offence, and invited them all to refresh- 
ments at his expense. 

After hearing several versions of this affair, and an examination of the 
town records, (which seem to have been altogether overlooked by Mirick) 
we have concluded that the facts were probably something like these : — 

Colonel Saltonstall had, for years, and, indeed, from the beginning of 
the troubles between the colonies and the mother country, espoused the 
cause of the latter, "When, in 17G8, the House of Eepresentatives were 
ordered to rescind the obnoxious resolutions already refei:red to. Colonel 
Saltonstall was a " rescinder ; " and he was not a man to disguise his sen- 
timents, or remain quiet and silent when such a contest was going on. 
Hence he became known as a " Tory " — an enemy to the patriot cause ; 
" an enemy to his country." Timothy Eaton was a zealous patriot, and 
one of the leading ones in the town. He had just been chosen to the sec- 
ond place on the " Committee of Inspection," and was also one of those 
chosen to " show each man his proportion " of the one hundred pounds 
voted for the relief of Boston. He was also one of the town's " Commit- 
tee of Correspondence." It is, therefore, quite reasonable to suppose, 
that he called on Colonel Saltonstall o^iciaUy, taking with him a sufficient 
posse to prove to the Colonel that it was not a matter to be trifled with. 
48 



878 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

The recent action of the town, and this ominous visit convinced the latter 
that it was no longer safe or consistent for him to remain in the town, 
and he decided to leave. That the company were "treated" at his cx- 
ponsc, is equally creditable to both parties. It was an c.irncst that they 
parted as personal friends, though divided as to the all-absorbing question 
before the colonies. 

In further proof that neither rioters nor a " moh " managed the affairs 
of the patriots, in the times of which we write, we quote the following, 
from the original paper now in the archives of the State : -. — 

" The Committee of Corrispondence &c for Haverhill In Complyance 
■with the orders & directions of this Great & General Cort, took posession 
of the House and abut an half acre of land in sd Haverhill belonging to 
Mr Moses Badger late fled from Boston with the Ministeral fleet and leased 
the same for the Term of one year, to Mr Isaac Eedington of Haverhill 
for Seven Pound to be Paid at the years end. 

Also took posession of the Personal Estate of Coll Eichard Saltonstall 
of Haverhill who fled as aforesd, (after having carefully Examined Ec- 
specting his Eeal Estate and in the opinion of the Committee according 
to Law Justice & Equity he had not any as the House & land he lately 
occupied was Mortgaged for the full Value thereof) 

Made an Inventory of the Same which is as Eolloweth viz : 

(Here follows, ia the original paper, a minute inventory of Colonel 
Saltonstall's personal estate.) 

Haverhill June 4th 177G 

by order of the Committee 

Isaac Eedington Chairman. 
To the Honble James Warren Esq 
Speaker of the Honble House of 
Eepresentitivca Massachusetts 
Bay." 

Co'.onel Saltonstall left town soon after, and ere long embarked for 
England. The King granted him a pension, and he passed the remainder 
of his days in that country. 

While these proceedings were being had in this town, the other towns 
in the colony, and in the other colonies, were by no means idle, or indif- 
fercLt. At a meeting of the committees of correspondence of those towns 
which hr.d such committees, held at Faneuil Hall, August 26th and 27th, 
it was rcsj.ved that a Provincial Congress was necessary, to counteract 
the systems of despotism. The next step in the progress of the cause, was 
the holding of county conventions of delegates from each town. That 



ntSTORT OP SAVEHHIIL. 879 

^f Esses was coHTened at Ipswich, on the 6th and 7tli of September, 
1774. The delegates from Haverhill were Samuel "White, Esq., Mr. 
Jonathan Webster, Mi-. Isaac Eedington, Mr. Joseph Haynes, After 
passing a series of reiolutions, the convention dissolved. 

In the meantime, (September uth) the Coxtixextal Coxguess assem- 
bled at Philadelphia, where the glowing eloquence of Patrick Henry recited 
the wrongs which the colonists had suffered, and for Avhich redress was 
imperiously demanded. After a careful examination of the subject, and 
an interchange of thoughts, sentiments, and opinions, the Congress unani- 
mously resolved " that from & after the first day of December next, there 
be no importation into British America, from Great Britain or Ireland, of 
any goods, wares, or merchandise whatever, or from any other place of any 
such goods, wares, or merchandises, as shall have been exported from 
Great Britain or Ireland ; and that no such goods, &c imported after the 
said first day of December next be used or purchased." 

To return again to our own province. Writs had been issued convening 
tbe General Court at Salem," on the 5th of October ; but before the time 
arrived, a proclamation from the Governor dissolved the assembly. For 
this step, the patriots were prepared ; and, pursuant to- the course which 
kad already been agreed upon, after meeting at Salem on the appointed 
day, they resolved themselves into a Provixcial Congress. The dele- 
gates to the Congress from this town were Samuel White, Esq., and Mr. 
Joseph Haynes.f After organizing, the Congress adjourned to Concord, 
and, still later, to Cambridge. J 

This body took the government of the province into their own hands, 
and made vigorous preparations for the approaching contest. Towns were 
recommended to provide arms and ammunition, and to enlist and equip 
Tninute-men, who should hold themselves in readiness to march " on the 
shortest notice," and in the meantime " to use tbeir utmost diligence to 
perfect themselves in military skill." 

This town had already anticipated the Congress in the first recommenda- 
tion, and it now lost no time in carrying out the others. 

° Whither it had been previously removed by instructions to the governor. 

t The delegates from this town to the second and the third Provincial Congress, were Nathaniel Peas- 
lee Sargeaut, Esq., and Jonathan Webster, Jr. 

I The First Provincial Congress convened at Snlem, October 7, 1774-, and ndjonrned the same day. 
Convened at Concord, October llth, and adjourned the 14th. Convened at Cambridge, October 17th, and 
adjourned the 29th. Convened at Cambridge, November 23d, and dissolved December 10th. 

The Second Provincial Congress convened at Cambridge, Februarj- 1st, 177-5, and adjourned the 16th. 
Convened at Concord, March 22d, and adjourned April loth. Convened at Concord, April 22d, and imme- 
diately adjourned to Watcrtown, where it again convened the same day, and dissolved May 29th. 

The Third Provincial Congress convened at Watertown, May 31st, 1773, and dissolved July 19th of 
the same year. 



380 HISTORY OF nAVKRnilli. 

As soon as their dckgatcs to the rrovincial Congress rctumccl homc/ 
and reported the doings of that body, a town meeting was immediately 
warned, for January 3d, 1775, to consider their recommendations. Among 
the matters specified in tlic warrant for this meeting were the following : — • 

" To agree on some measures for the carrying into execution the Recom- 
mendation of the grand Continental and Provincial Congresses ; and all 
those matters and things which Respect us : =•' ^^ " '■-' 

" To sec what Encouragement the Town will give for the inlisting one 
Quarter part of the Military : 

" To see what Money the Town will give the Poor unhappy Sufferers of 
the Town of Boston, occasioned by the oppressive Port Bill : 

" To see what number of Arms the Town will vote to purchase for ita 
own use : 

" To sec if the Town will chuse one or more meet Persons to attend the 
Provincial Congress in February next or sooner according to the Direction 
of the late Congress." 

Jonatlian AYebster, Jr., Samuel White, Esq., Samuel MeiTill, Nathaniel 
P. Sargcant, and Doctor James Brickett w'ere chosen to consider the first 
matter above mentioned and report at an adjourned meeting. 

It being " put to vote to sec if the town would give anything to the 
Minite Men," it was decided in the affirmative, and Isaac Redington, Dan- 
iel Dcnaison Rogers, Deacon Joseph Kelly, and Deacon John Aycr, were 
added to the above committee, to whom the whole matter was referred. 

It was then " voted to give unto the Poor of Boston one hundred pounds. 
Voted that the said hundreit pounds be Raised by a Rate or an equal pro- 
portion — but none are to J^tifiompelled to pay " ! 

The following persons were-tjhoscn committees " to shoic each man his 
proportion": — For the West Parish, Timothy Eaton, Stephen Webster, 
and Samuel Merrill ; for the Old Parish, Nathaniel Bradley, Moses Clem- 
ent, and Captain William Greenleaf; for the East Parish, John Ela, 
Ephraim Eliot, and Captain Daniel Johnson ; for the North Parish, Dea- 
con Benjamin Clements, and Isaac Snow. 

The meeting adjourned to the 12th of the same month, at which time 
Nathaniel Peaslee Sargeant, and Jonathan Webster, Jr., were chosen dele- 
gates to the Provincial Congress. The town "voted to stand by, and 
firmly adhere to the Resolves of the Continental Congress; " and also " to 
sign a covenant similar to the Association agreed upon by the Continental 
Congress ; " and Nathaniel Peaslee Sargeant, Esq., Joseph Hayncs, and 
Jonathan Webster Jr., were chosen a committee " to draw a Covenant for 
the people to sign," 

Fifty pounds were voted to the Provincial Congress, for its use. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 381 

The vote In relation to the " Poor of Boston " was at this meeting re- 
considered, and it was determined to raise money for them by voluntary 
subscription. Edward Ordway was added to the committee for that pur- 
pose, and the meeting then adjourned to the 30th of the same month. 

January 30th, the town met according to adjournment. At this meet- 
ing, the vote " respecting the peoples signing a Covenant," was re-consid- 
ered, and it was then unanimously voted " to adhere strictly to & firmly 
to abide by the association of the Continental Congress." It was then 

" Voted that there be a Committee consisting of 15 Persons (which are 
called the Committee of Inspection) to Inspect & Duly observe that 
the association of the Continental Congress is put into Execution. The 
Committee are as followeth : — Messrs Samuel Merrill, Timothy Eaton, 
Doctr "William Bachellor, Richard Aycr, Isaac Eedington, Thomas West, 
Doctor James Brickett, Thomas Cogswell, Enoch Marsh, James Sawyer, John 
Ela, Dea Ezra Chase, Dca Ebenezer Colby, Isaac Snow, Edward Ordway." 

The committee chosen to consider the proposition relating to raising 
" Minite Men," made the following report : — 

" We have carefully examined Our Numbers and find we ought to Eaise 
Sixty three Men including three Commission officers to make up one Quar- 
ter part. We Eecommend it to the Town to appoint three Commission 
officers to inlist, discipline, and upon occasion when called for in defence 
of the Province to march the same. AYc further Eecommend it that the 
Minite Men be duly disciplined in Squads three half days in a Week, three 
hours in eaeh half day, and that they be allowed for each half day, eight 
pence till ye middle of March next, and one shilling for each half day 
afterwards, until they are called out to actual service from home, or dis- 
banded. That when they are called to leave home on actual service they 
shall Eeceive ye same wages & subsistence as Soldiers received the last ■ 
war. That if they are called upon »& do actually march from home in de- 
fence of the Province they shall be intitled to recieve three dollars each 
as a Bounty, either from the Town or Province. Further that the three 
chief officers recieve for each half Day two Shillings Each till ye middle 
of March next, & after that time three shillings each half Day till called 
upon to march from home, or are disbanded — when called upon to march 
to recieve such pay as shall be ordered by the Province. All inlistments 
to be for the Space of one year from this time, unless sooner disbanded by 
the Town or Province. 

N. B. The words to march the same — meaneth Sixty Three men in- 
cluding Three officers, being one Quarter part of the Soldiers in Town." 
(Signed) Jonathan Webster, per order." 

The report and its recommendations were adopted. 



S82 



niSTORT Oi nATEfttlltt. 



After a long and tedious search for the names of these minute-incn, We 
have been so fortunate as to find a list of them, which we give below. The 
paper of which the following is a copy, and several other exceedingly valu- 
able documents relating to that period, were found among the town's old 
papers, and proved to be part of a parcel of loose papers found in an 
old bag which had been kicked about the assessors' room for years. They 
were finally carefully placed with the town's other papers, by R. G. "Walker) 
Esq., and thus luckily preserved : — 

" A Eol of the Minit Men in Capt James Sawyer's Company & tho 
Number of days Each man Trained according to the Yoat of the Town of 
Haverhill in March and Apirel 1775 " 



Days 



Days 



James Sawyer Capt 


5 


Samuel gips Mitchel 




Timothy Johnson Lieut 


5 


Joshua Emory 


6 


Nathaniel Eaton Lieut *»* 


5 


Jerimiah Stickney 


5 


Mitchel Whiticher Sargt 


6 


Joseph Webster 


5 


Moses Heselton Sargt 


5 


Isaiah Eaton """^^ 


5 


Wm Eolf Sargt 


5 


Ebenezer Grifen 


4 


Charles Davis Sargt 


5 


Samuel Emerson 


5 


Enock Eaton Coprel -^ 


4 


John Silver 




Chas Sarjant Coprel 


3 


Seth Wymon 


4 


John Bery Coprel 


6 


Daniel Lord 


5 


Euben Sargent 


3 


Nathan Peabody 


5 


Asa Currer 


5 


James Whitickcr 


4 


Thomus Tiylor 


5 


Samuel Sanders , 


3 


Daniel Colby 


3 


Henerey Springer 


1 


John Dow 


6 


Ebenezer AVebster 




John Eaton „,.^ 


4 


Johnthan Dusten 


4 


Joseph Emorson 


5 


Daniel Grifen 


3 


Simon Pieck 


4 


Moses Emorson Juner 


4 


Lewis George 


5 


John gipson 


3 


AVm Davis 


2 


Nathan Ayre 


4- 


Mosse Emorson 


5 


James Townsand 


4 


Job gage 


4 


Stephen Eunels 


4 


Peter Emorson 


3 


John Tiylor 


3 


Samuel George 




James Wilson 




John Cheney 


1 


Daniel Eemock 


3 


Nathaniel Cahaney 




Stephen Jackson 


3 


Samuel Ealy 


2 


Joshua Moors 


1 


AVm Sawyer 


4 


Philip Bagley 


4 


James Smiley 


5 


Humpree Nicols 


4 


Joel Harrimen 


5 


Dudley Dusten 


3 


James Snow 


5 


Johnthan Lowger 


4 


Mark Emorson 




atteset 




John Sanders 


4 


Mitchel Wittier Serjant 



HISTORY- 0? HAVERHILI,. 



883 



At the annual meeting, Marcli 14, thirty dollars were voted to procure 
a military instructor to " instruct the Militia in the Art Military " in the 
town. One week later, it was voted that the minute-men should train one 
whole day in each week, instead of three half days as previously voted. 
They were to be trained by " Mr George Marsden, whom we have hired," 
and to receive two shillings each for that day. AYe have now before us a 
return of the minute-men of this town, that " met at Andovcr for Exsise " 
on Thursday, the 13th of April. Forty-six men of Captain Sawyer's 
company were, present. Little did they probably think that this was their 
last opportunity for preparatory " training," but so it proved. Before 
another week had passed, the fearful struggle had commenced. 

AYe need not repeat the story of the morning of the immortal Nineteenth 
of April, 1775. The soil of Lexington and Concord was baptized with 
the blood of American Patriots, and the whole country was aroused. The 
news probably reached this town soon after noon of the same day, and 
the minute-men immediately left for the scene of action. Before night, 
one hundred and Jive Haverhill men were ^' gone to ye Army." This was 
almost one-half of the entire militia force of the town. Surely wc can do 
no less than to place the names of these noble patriots on our pages. 

The first of the following lists, is a roll of the " Minite Men" who 
marched upon the alarm. 

" Cambridge April 2G 1775 
" A List of the men who Eecieved their Part of the Billiting or Bounty 
Money from ye Town of Haverhill " 
Capt James Sawyer, Danl Colby, 
Lt Tim'y Johnson, Saml Sanders, 

Lt Xathl Eaton, Saml Ela, 

Sargt Heseltine Moses, John Gibson, 

John Dow, 

James Townsn, 

Saml Emerson, 

Joseph AYcbster, 

Jonathn Longer, 

Danl Lord, 

Wm Sawyer, 

Asa Currier, 

James Snow, 

Nathn Ayer, 

John Eaton, 

Mitchal Whitier, 

Wm Davis, 



John Barry, 
Simn Pike, 
Moses Emerson, 
Jonathn Duston, -^ 
Lewis George, 
Job Gage 
Isaiah Eaton, 
Joseph Emerson, 
John Sanders, 
Stephen Jackson, 
James Smyley, 
Joshua Emery, 
Daniel Chiney, 



Humphy Nichols, 
Thos Tyler, 
Josiah Fcsenden, 
Joel Herrimn, 
Nathan Peabody, 
Phillip Bagley, 
Charles Davis, 
James AYilson, 
Chase Sargeant, 
James Whitaker, 
Seth AYyman, 
Ebenr Griffin, 
Peter Emerson, 
Piuben Sargt, 
Danl Griffin, 
James Kimball, 
Enoch Eaton, 



Each of these men, (except Peter Emerson, who received 5s, 
Enoch Eaton, who received 6s) received nine shillings Bounty money. 



and 
It 



was paid them by Colonel Brickett, and the original list of the company 



384: 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL 



is in hig hand-writing. June 26, 1776, the House of Eeprescntativcs 
" Resolved, That there be allowed & paid out of the Public Treasury of 
this Colony, to the Selectmen of Haverhill, the sum of Fifty seven pounds 
four shillings and six pence in full of their account of provisons supplied 
the Army, at the time of Lexington fight, on the 19th of April 1775." 

" A Muster Roll of the Company under the Command of Capt Daniel 
Hills in Colo Johnsons Eegt of Militia which marched on ye alarm April 
19th 1775, from ye Town of Haverhill to Cambridge under the Command 
of Lt Saml Clements." 



Persons names 



No. inilej 
lontit home 



1st Lt Saml Clements, 

2 Lt Ebener Gage,. . . 

Serjt Jno Downing, . . 

Serjt Jas Ayer, 

Serjt Saml Middleton, 

John Gage, 

Timothy George 

David Peasly, 

Moses Witcomb, 

Enoch Cordwill, 

Moses Herriman, .... 

Nathl Bodge, 

James Walker,'-' 

James Kimball, 

^^^ Jacob Green, 

'^^^\ *• Nehh Emerson 

\ ^n J^^xQ. Cooke, 

*^- ^'*' Ebenr Ballard, 

Wm Wingate 

Cotton Kimball, . . , . . 

Edward Shaw, 

Philln Colby 

Jno Serjant, 

Jno Perley, 



70 



Amt nt 
1(1 8 mile 



No. days 

each man 

was in 

bervicc 



OS 10 



Wages due to each Total of Travel 
man & Wagci 



£0.17.2 
0.17.6 
0.10.3 
0.10 3 
0.8.7 
0.10. 
0.7.1 
0.10. 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.10. 
0.8.6 
0.5.8 
0.10. 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.10. 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.5.8 
0.7.1 
0.5.8 



£1.3— 
1.3.4 
0.16.1 
0.16.1 
0.14.5 
0.15.10 
0.12.11 
0.15.10 
0.11.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.15.10 
0.14.4 
0.11.6 
0.15.10 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.15.10 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.11.6 
0.12.11 
0.11.6 



141 I £11.1.5 1 

Saml Clements Lt 

a true copy 



£ 18.1.5 



G Tailer 



o James Walker was of Uie si.xth generation since the settlement of the town. Dnrins the war, he 
was an ensign in a company raisi-il h"ro. and afterward comniMudcd a detachment of men wh.) had cliiir^'O 
of the biials belDngiii? tyolic of the divisions wh'ch crossed the Delaware, on the night previous to the 
memorable battle of Trenton, Deccml)fr 2.)th, 177C. Krom 1S18. until his death. Mr. Walker received a 
peuaion of twenty dollars a month. He died February 8th, 1846, in the ninety-eighth year of his age. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 



385 



*' A Muster Eoll of the Company under ye Command of Capt Ebenezer 
Colby in Colo Jolinsons Eegt of Militia well marchd on ye alarm April 
19th 1775 from ye Town of Haverhill to Cambridge." 



Persons names 



No miles Amt at 
;out&homeld 8 mil 



Capt Ebenr Colby, I 70 

Jos Greeley Sergt, . . . 

Josiah Brown do 

John Gutridge, 

John Page, 

Barnard Sargent, .... 

Jacob Ealey, 

Samuel Page Jr, 

Edmd Brown, 

Jona Ealy, 

Ephm Chase, 

Leonard Chase, 

Jona Huntings, 

Saml Bradbry, 

Phinea Xichols, 

Erancis Carr, 

Eichd Currier, 

Erancis Morrill, 

David Mors, 

Jos Eobinson 

Abner Kimball, 

Jos Hardy, 

Ezra Chase, 

Nehh Ordaway, 

David George, 

Saml Aj'er Junr 

Saml Page, 

Wm Bradbry, 

Benja Ordaway, 



5s 10 



No days 

each man 

was ill 

service 



Wages due to each T' tal of Travel 
man & Wages 



£0.17.^ 
0.10.3 
0.8.7 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 

. 0.8. 6 
0.5.8 
0.8.6 
0.5.8 
0.5.8 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.5.8 
0.5.8 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.2.10 
0.2.10 
0.2.10 
0.2.10 
0.2,10 
0.2.10 
0.2.10 



£1.2.11J 
0.16.1 
0.U.5 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.11.6 
0.14.4 
0.11.6 
0.11.6 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.11.6 
0.11.6 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.8.8 
0.8.8 
0.8.8 
0,8.8 
0.8.8 
0.8.8 
0.8.8 



Ebenr Colby Capt £18.12.3^ 

a true copy G Tailer 
Essex Ss Haverhill Jany 9th 1776 

Then Capt Ebenr Colby within named, appeared & made Oath to ye 
truth of ye within accott by him subscribed 

Before Me Saml Phillips Jus Peace 
Examined and compared with the Original 
EdwdEawson) ^ ... 
James Dix | Committee. 

49 



386 HISTOET OP HAVERHILL. 

In addition to the three companies here given, we must add the name of 
" Col James Brickett," (afterward General) who probably hastened to 
Cambridge on the first alarm, as we find he was there on the 26 th, and 
subsequently. 

The following letter, from our delegates to the Provincial Congress, 
dated the next day after the battle at Lexington, is additional evidence 
that these men marched immediately on the alarm : — 

"Haverhill April 20th 1775. 
Sr 

The late dreadful Fire in this town" — The great Number of our 
People gone to ye Army — The great Numbers from ye other GoA^ernment 
that pass & repass thrd this town, & ye disturbances in it, renders it ab- 
solutely necessary, as we apprehend, that we attend at home to preserve 
Order & quiet — 

Therefore Sr, we hope you will excuse our nonattendance this Session — 
wishing that he that giveth wisdom liberally, would enlighten your Paths, 
we subscribe, Sr 

your Humble Servts 

Nathll Peaslee Sargeant 
Jonat Webster." 
The letter is directed to 

" The President of ye Provincial 
Congress, 

now Sitting. 
Ford by Isaac Merrill Esqr." 
The letter was received, and read, on the afternoon of the 2r)th, and the 
following answer was returned to the Town Clerk of Haverhill : — 

" Sir : The Congress have this day received a letter from Nathaniel 
Peaslee Sargeant Esq, and Jonathan AYebster Esq, acquainting them that 
the late dreadful fire in Haverhill, together with some public disturbances 
in said town, make it necessary that they should be at home at this time. 
The Congress apprehend that the important business of the colonies re- 
quires that every town should be now represented ; and therefore desire 
that if neither of those gentlemen can attend, others should be elected in 
their room, that the wisdom of the whole colony may be collected at our 
hour of need." 

o On Sundiiy, 16th of April, a destructive fire brolte out in Main Street, and nil the west side of it 
from what is now Court Street to the comer, was burnt. Seventeen buildings were destroyed, includinjr, 
a large brick tavern, owned by Mr. John White, the store of Deacon Josepli Dodge, the store of James 
Duncan, Esq., a house occupied by Mrs. Alley, and a distillery. The earth was parched with a drought, 
and everything was combustible. The meeting-house was frequently on fire, and there being but one 
engine, it was difflcolt to subdue the raging element. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 387 

At tlie Oldening of the third Congress, at Watertown, May 31st, Mr. 
Webster was present, and took an active part throughout the session. "VVe 
notice that he was almost daily appointed on important committees. 

In the midst of the excitement, anxiety, and distress, of the inhabitants 
of the town, consequent upon the news from Lexington and Concord, and 
the departure of so many men for the war, now actually begun, there 
occurred an event which added ten-fold to the distress of those left behind. 
Those who witnessed it, can never foi'get its scenes, and those who did not, 
can have but a faint idea from any description. We allude to what has 
been sometimes called " the Ipswich fright," and which happened some- 
thing in this wise : — 

On the afternoon of the second day, after the Lexington fight, a man 
named John Tracy, of Marblehead, came riding into town, bare-headed, 
and in the most excited manner cried out that the British were marching 
toward the town, and would be here by the next morning, — ^ that they 
were " cutting and slashing all before them." The news'spread like wild- 
fire, and being generally credited, it produced a complete and most 
distressing panic. As a large part of the militia of the town were gone to 
the scene of action, the terror and alarm, particularly among the women 
and children, exceeded the power of language to describe. Preparations 
were immediately made, by all who could command any means of trans- 
portation, to remove at once into the back country ; and many who had 
neither horse nor oxen of their own, hastily collected a bundle of such 
necessaries as they could carry, and started on foot. The scene on the 
village common that night can scarce be imagined. Guards had been 
posted at a distance to give the alarm if the enemy should appear, and, 
with horses saddled, and ox-carts loaded, and the oxen yoked, the afi"righted 
inhabitants repaired to the grounds around the meeting-house, and the 
" old town pump," and anxiously waited for daylight, to take up the line 
of march. Those who lived near by, put their children to bed undressed, 
and many who lived in more distant parts of the village, brought their 
children to the houses of those near the meeting-house. And so the night 
wore slowly away. With the morning, messengers were dispatched to learn 
more of the dreaded enemy. But no reliable information could be obtained, 
either of them, or as to the truth of the first report, and gradually the in- 
habitants became convinced that it was a false alarm, and one after 
another returned to their own dwellings with lighter hearts than they had 
left them only a few hours before." 

" In the East Parish, large numbers of the affrighted inhabitants flocked to the "hemlocks," on the 
east side of Kenoza Lake, where they remained concealed during the night. 



388 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



The origin of the alarm is still involved in ohscurity. By some it has 
been supposed to have been a regularly concocted scheme to alarm and 
distress the inhabitants, and it is remarkable that the same story, in sub- 
stance, was simultaneousli/ told, from Ipswich to Coos. In every place 
the " regulars " were but a few miles behind the messenger. How, or by 
whom, or with what motives, the report was first started, no one could ever 
tell. It lasted but one night, and in the morning all who were informed 
that the rumor was without foundation, 

♦' Returned safe home, right glad to save 

Their property from pillage ; 
And all agreed to blame the man, 
AVho first alarmed the village." 

Two days after the Lexington fight, the Committee of Safety resolved 
that eight thousand men should be immediately inlisted out of the Massa- 
chusetts forces for seven months, unless sooner discharged. Two days 
later, the Provincial Congress, which had been hastily summoned to con- 
vene, resolved Ihat it was necessary an army of thirty thousand men 
should be immediately raised, of which Massachusetts should furnish 
thirteen thousand, five hundred. These were afterward known as the 
" eight months service men." 

A careful examination of the rolls, shows that at least ninety-four Hav- 
erhill men enlisted in this service. Below, we give their names, with the 
company and regiment to which each was attached : -— 

In Captain James Sawyer's company, in Colonel James Frye's regiment, 
were 
James Sawyer, Captain Francis Dinsmore Priv't Simeon Pike'- Private 



Timoth}^ Johnson. Lieut Joseph Emerson 
Nathaniel Eaton, " Joseph Emerson Jr 
Nathan A3'er, Corporal Peter Emerson 
Asa Currier " Moses Emerson 

Eeuben Sargent " James Emerson 
Benjah Clement Fifer Joshua Emery 
John Tyler Drummer Samuel Ele 
Moses Hesseltine, Serjt Isaiah Eaton 
James llix, " John Eaton-' 

Seth Wyman, " Daniel GriflBn 

Phillip Bailey, Private Lewis George 



Nathl Chiney 
Jonathan Dustan 
William Davis 
Charles Davis 
John Dow 
Dudley Duston 



Ebenezer Griffin 
Lemuel Gage 
Job Gage 
James Kimball 
Joshua Moors 
James Pike Jr 



Joseph Page 
Nathan Peabody 
Steven Euniels 
AYm Sawyer 
Edward Sawyer 
Lemuel Sanders 
John Sanders 
James Snow 
Chase Sargent 
Henry Springerf 
Thomas Tyler 
James Towusend 
"William AVhittier 
James Whittier 
Caleb Young 

(Total 52) 



o Killed at Banker Hill, June 17th, 1775. f Enlisted in another company. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. S89 

In Captain Moses McFarland's company, in Colonel John Nixon's regi- 
ment, 

Moses McFarland, Capt Cornelius Mansise, Priv James Pecker, Private 
Bartholom'w Pecker, Cor Natlil McParland " James Smiley " 

Mark Emerson, Fifer Phillip Nelson " Hugh Smiley " 

John Alley, Private David Powers " William Smiley *' 

■William Cook " David Peaslie " (Total 14) 

In Captain Micajah Gleason's company, in Colonel Nixon's regiment, 
"VVingate Bradley, Fifer Lemuel Bradley, Private Samuel Piand, Private 
James Kimball, Lieut Nathaniel Kimball " (Total 5) 

In Captain Gilman's company, in Colonel Nixon's regiment, 

David Bryant, Corporal William Case, PrivateMoses Emerson, Private 
Jonathan Nelson " Christopher Clement " Oliver Page " 

William Lamont, Ensign Daniel Dow " (Total 8) 

In Captain Butler's company, in Colonel Nixon's regiment, 

John White, Qr Master Matthew Jennerson Sergt 

(Total 2) 

In Captain John Davis's company, in Colonel Frye's regiment, 

Peter Carlton, Private'-' Ebeliezer Carlton, Serjtf 

(Total 2) 

In Captain Wells' company, in Colonel Wliitcomb's regiment, 

Jacob Castle, Private John Crout, Private 

(Total 2) 

In Captain Francis' company, in Colonel Mansfield's regiment, 

Nathaniel Duston, Private 

In Captain Cogswell's company, in Colonel Gerrish's regiment, 

Daniel Eeamick, Corp David Nickels, Private John Whicher, Private 
Eichard Hesseltine Priv Jonathan Peaslee " (Total 5) 

In Captain Poplin's company, in Colonel Gridley's regiment, 

Samuel Heath, Private 

In Captain Moore's company, in Colonel Nixon's regiment, 

Jacob Whittier, Private. 
The above regiments were all stationed at Cambridge, — excepting that 
of Colonel Gerrish, which was stationed at Maiden and Chelsea. The 
Haverhill men, with the two exceptions noted, were all (probably) enrolled 
previous to May 19, 1775, at which time nearly all the above named offi- 
cers were commissioned.! The time of enlistment was until the followina 
January. 

° Did not enlist until July 13th, and served two months and twenty-two days. 
t Enlisted February 14th, and served six months and twenty-one days. 

J The returns were sent to the Provincial Congress, June 10th. Colonel James Brickctt received his 
commission as Lieutenant-Colonel, in Colonel James Frye's Essex Eegimeut, May 20th. 



390 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL* 

It is worthy of mention, that although but thirteen thousand, five hun- 
dred men were called for, fifteen thousand voluntarily enlisted before the 
middle of June. 

The town of Harpswell having applied to the Provincial Congress for a 
supply of powder, (which was very scarce in the whole colony) that body 
requested (May 7) the selectmen of Haverhill to let them have one half- 
barrel, promising that it should be replaced as soon as it could be had. 
The supply of powder continuing to be very scanty, a committee was ap- 
pointed to ascertain how much each town had, and report how much could 
be safely spared for the public service. They reported that in forty towns, 
a total of sixty-seven and three-fourths bai'rels could be spared. Of this 
amount, Haverhill furnished two barrels. Only ten towns in the whole 
colony were able to spare an equal amount each. 

May 13th the Congress ordered post-riders to be immediately established 
between Cambridge and the principal towns in the province, and estab- 
lished post-offices in such towns. Simeon Greenough was appointed post- 
master at Haverhill. 

On the loth day of June, the Committee of Safety, after long delibera- 
tion, decided to occupy Bunker Hill, in Charlestown, and passed a secret 
vote to that effect. The next day, orders were issued to Colonel William 
Prescott, Colonel Bridge, and the Commandant of Colonel Frye's'-- regiment, 
to be prepared for an expedition, with all their men fit for service, and 
one day's provision. The same order issued for one hundred and twenty 
of General Putnam's regiment, and Captain Gridley's company of artillery 
with two field-pieces. 

Early in the evening of the 16th, Colonel Prescott was ordered with 
these troops to proceed immediately to Charlestown, take possession of 
Bunker Hill, and erect the necessary fortifications to defend it. Profound 
secrecy was to be observed. The troops were silently assembled on Cam- 
bridge Common, where a solemn prayer was offered up by Eev. President 
Langdon, of Harvard College. At dark, the detachment left the camp, 
and proceeded to Charlestown. Colonel Prescott led the way, dressed in 
a simple calico frock, with two sergeants, having dark-lanterns open only 
to the rear, about six paces in front of the troops. Profound mystery 

o Colonel Frye was at the time ill of the gout, and, moreover, president of a court martial. His regi- 
ment was, therefore, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel James Brickett. Colonel Prescott, under 
date " Camp at Cambridge Aug 25, 1775," writes to John Adams, at that time a Delegate to the Conti- 
nental Congress : — 

"On the 10th June, in the evening, I received ciders to march to Breed's Hill in Charlestown, with a 
par^ of about one thousand men, consisting of three hundred of my own regiment, Colonel Bridge and 
LioimJIfriCkett, with a detachment of theirs, and two hundred Connecticut forces commanded by Captain 
Knoulton." — Frolhingfiam' s Sitye of Boston, 395. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 391 

hung over the object of the expedition until they crossed Charlestown 
neck and found wagons loaded with intrenching tools, fascines, gabions, 
and empty hogsheads. 

But we cannot continue tTius minute. Suffice it to say, that the tall, 
granite shaft on " Bunker's Height," has been erected to commemorate the 
events of that night and the day following — 

"The Glorious Seventeenth of June." 

In that first battle of the Revolution, Haverhill was largely represented. 
In the detachment that marched to occupy the hill, on the evening of the 
16th, were Lieutenant-Colonel Brickett, one; in Captain Davis's company, 
one ; in Captain Sawyer's company, fifty-two — Total fifty-four. The 
whole number of the detachment was not above one thousand men, — thus 
giving this town one man in every twenty. Of those actually engaged in 
the battle, the most careful and reliable accounts give us the following : — 
Lieutenant-Colonel Brickett, one ; in Captain Sawyer's company, fifty- 
two ; in Captain Moses McFarland's company, fourteen ; in Captain Glea- 
son's company," five ; in Captain Davis's company, one ; in Captain Mooer's 
company, one — total, seventy-four. =■•= 

The number of Americans engaged in the battle, fluctuated largely, and 
the crude state of the army organization at that time, render it impossible 
to say with precision how many men took part in the action ; but after a 
long and patient examination, we give the above as very nearly the true 
number of Haverhill men who took part in the glorious struggle on that 
day. • 

Of the one hundred and fifteen killed, two were from this town — John 
Eaton and Simeon Pike — both in Captain Sawyer's company. This com- 
pany evidently performed hard service on this occasion, as we find in the 
official list of those " who lost guns, &c., at the Battle of Bunker Hill," 
the names of twenty-one from this town, — most of whom wore attached to 
this company. f They are as follows : — 

Timothy Johnson, AVilliam Sawyer, Charles Davis, 

Nathaniel Eaton, John Jepson, Joseph Emerson, 

Nathan Aycr, ' "William "VYhittier, Joseph Emerson Jr, 

* David How and Samuel Blodget, both of whom afterward became prominent citizens of this town, 
were also in the battle. Blodget was one of those who succeeded in arresting the retreat of the New 
Hampshire troops. 

Colonel Scammon, of Saco, — who commanded a large regiment from Maine, on that day, — was at one 
time previous a resident of Haverhill. He was not, however, actually in the battle, although "ordered to 
go where the fighting was ! " 

° We also find in the Province Treasurer's book for 1776, — under the head of " Sundry pnyments 
made for Losses sustained at the Battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, paid in 1776," — the following; 
*' June. Paid James Brickett & others £382, 6.1." We presume this was paid him for the persona 
above named. 



392 



niSTORT OF HAVERHILI. 



Moses EmerSon, Daniel Griffin, John Tyler, 

James Pike, James Townscnd, Stephen llunniels, 

John Dow, Joshua Moors, Reuben Sargent, 

Seth Wyman, John Cockle, ^ Phillip Baglcy. 

Of the three hundred and five Americans wounded in the battle, we can, 
with certainty, name only one ^from this town, — Colonel Brickett. He 
was standing by the side of General Putnam, in the early part of the ac- 
tion when a cannon-ball struck the plank upon which they stood, knocking 
them both down. Colonel Brickett was wounded in the foot, and the 
shock was so great as to cause a " rupture," from which he suffered to 
the end of his life." 

Colonel Swett, in his account of the battle, says that General "Warren, 
as he went on the hill, to fight as a volunteer, obtained his arms of Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Brickett, " who came off with the first wounded." 

The tune of the Americans, at Bunker Hill, was " Yankee Doodle." 
It was the first time of its use by them, but ever after it was their 
favorite, and has become our most popular national air.f 



" James Frye's regiment, from Esses, was commissioned May 20. The latest return is dated May 26. 
James Brickett was lieutenant-colonel; Thomas Poor, major; Daniel Hardy, adjutant; Thomas Kitt- 
redge, surgeon. Colonel Frye did not go to Breed's Hill with his regiment on the evening of June IG, on 
accountof indisposition; hut was in the battle, behaved with spirit, and was active in urging on rein- 
forcements. Lieutenant-Colonel Brickett, a physician, was wounded early in the action, and, with other 
Burgeons, repaired to the north side of Bunker Hill, and remained in attendance on the wounded."— 
Froihinghain' s Seige of Boston. 

t Tankee Doodle. — To every Yankee, be he hoy or man, who can whistle, hum, or sing, the tune of 
Tanhee Doodle is familiar; but the burlesque song which in old time so often accompanied it, is fast pas- 
sing into oblivion, and we cannot resist the temptation to give it a place in these pages. The story runs, 
that the song was composed by a British officer of the Revolution, with a view to ridicule the American^t 
who, by way of derision, were styled Yankees. The song has had many commentators and collators, and 
undergone many additions and alterations. The following version gives it as sung at least seventy years 
ago, and is probably as near the original as we can now expect to secure it : 



" Father and I went down to camp, 
.Mong with Captain Goodwin, 

Where we see the men and boys 
As thick as Musty -puddin. 

There was Captain Washington 
Upon a slapping stallion 

A giving orders to his men — 
I guess there was a million. 

And then the feathers on his hat, 
They looked so tarnal fina, 

I wanted pockily to get 
To give to my Jemima. 

And there they had a swampin gun, 

As large as log of maple, 
On a deuced little cart — 

A load for father's cattle ; 

And every time they fired it off, 
It took a horn of powder, 

It made a noise like father's gun, 
Only a nation louder. 

I went US near to it myself 
As Jacob's underpinnin, 



And father went as near again — 
I thought the deuce was in him. 

And there I see a little keg, 
Its heads were made of leather — 

They knocked upon't with little sticks 
To call the folks together. 

And there they'd ffe axoay like fun. 
And play on cornstalk fiddles 

And some had ribbons red as blood, 
All wound about their middles. 

The troopers, too, would gallop up 
And fire right in our faces ; 

They scar'cd me almost half to death 
To see them run such races. 

Old uncle Sam. come there to change 
Some pancakes and some onions. 

For lasses-cakes, to carry home 
To give his wife and young ones. 

But I can't tell you half I see 
They kept up such a smother; 

So I took my hat off — made a bow. 
And scamper'd home to mother." 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 



393 



At a town meeting, held Septemlber 19th, it was 

" Voted to dismiss the old Committees of Correspondence ; and of Safety, 
and Inspection ; and to Chuse a new one in their Eoom." 

" Voted that a Committee of Seven Men be chosen to Serve as a Commit- 
tee of Correspondence, Safety and Inspection ; and are as followeth Viz : 
Dea Jonathan Shephard, Mr Isaac Eedington, Capt Kichard Ayer, Lieut 
Samuel Merrill, Mr Ephraim Elliot, Lieut Isaac Snow, & Mr Thomas West." 

At a meeting held December 11th, the town granted permissson for 
Nathaniel Marsh and Isaac Bartlett to establish a manufactory of saltpetre, 
and voted them fifty pounds, for their encouragement. But owing to the 
unsettled state of the times, it was discontinued. 

Erom the records of the First Company in this town, we copy the follow- 
ing list of the names of those who were drafted from that company for the 
continental service in 1775 and 1776: — 



Thomas Cogswell, Capt Stephen Jackson, 
Samuel Kimball, 1st Lt David Harris, 
William Lemont, 2d Lt Jonathan Harris, 
Samuel AValker, Ensign Nehemiah Emerson, 
John White, Qr Master Jonathan Dustin, jr, 



John Dow, 
James Pecker, 
Theodore Tyler, 
Joseph Whiting, 
John Eaton, 
Stephen Dustin, 
Jonathan Sargent, 
Moses Harriman, 
Nathan Ayer, 
James Townsend, 
Joseph Johnson, 



Samuel Middleton, 
Samuel Middleton, jr, 
William Baker, 
John Stickney, 
John Tyler, 
Job G-age, 
David Perley, 
John Downing, 
Nathaniel Kimball, 
Samuel Woodman, 



Samuel Buck, 
Daniel Tyler, 
William Greenleaf, 
David Moores, 
Stephen Eunnels, 
William Gage, 
Daniel Eemich, 
Moses Keezar, 
Samuel Lecount, 
Joshua Moores, 
Joseph Wakefield, 
James Eix, 
John Whittier, 
Bart Pecker, 
John Alley, 
Philip Bagley, privates. 



Ephraim Dodge, 

The following is a list of those.who served six weeks at Eoxbary. They 
were commanded by Captain Eaton, and marched in December, 1775 : — 
Obadiah Ayer, John Whiting, Moses Whittier, 

Daniel Hill, jr, Nehemiah Emerson, jr, Samuel Greenleaf, 

Moses Willcomb, Peter Middleton, 

Amos Clement, Ebenezer Ballard, 

The following is a list of those " who hired for two months in February 
.1776, at forty shillings L. M. pr man." Samuel Appleton, John Cogs- 
well, jr., Isaac Eedington, John Green, Theodore Tyler, Amos Gile, 
William Wingate. David Marsh, Enoch Marsh, and Nathaniel Marsh, 
were classed, and hired one man ; James Duncan, Samuel Dimcan, and 
Jonathan Barker, were classed, and hired one man; Israel Bartlett 
and Phineas Carlton, were classed, and hired one man. 
50 



y 



3^94 HISTORY OF HAVERHItt. 

It is impossilile, at tliis time, to give the names of all who served in the 
army of the devolution, from this town, or even to give the time, and 
place, and length of service, of all those whose names are still preservcd- 
It frequently happened that, when an order came to draft soldiers, two, 
throe, and four men were classed, and were obliged to hire one man to 
serve- in their room. This was done so as to make each man bear an equal 
portion of the burtheti. 

At the annual meeting. March 19, 1776, the same persons that were 
elected in September, were re-chosen a " Committee of Correspondence^ 
Safety, and Inspection." 

April 2;!d, a meeting was held and 1 liomas West, Esq., was chosen a 
delegate to a county c'ouventiou to be held at Ipswich, " to consider of 
some method by which they may obtain an equal representation, by every 
man's having a like voice in the election of the legislative body of this 
Colony." 

On the 30th of the same month, a meeting was called, and Captain John 
Mullikcn, and Captain Cornelius Mansise, were chosen " a committee to 
attend a meeting of Committees of Newbury, Newburyport, and Ames- 
bury, May 2d, at the Town House in Newburyport, to fix on a plan of a 
Fort to be built on Plumb Island." 

At a meeting, wai-ned for the purpose, June 25, 1776, the town 

" Voted, That if the Honorable Congress for the Safety of the United 
Colonies should Declare them Independant of the kingdom of Great 
Britain, this Town do engage tvith their Lives and Fortunes to support 
them in the Measure." 

" Voted that the Town Treasurer is hereby impowered to hire money 
for to purchase Arms &c for the use of the Poor in this Town."-' 

June 29th, the towns of Haverhill and Newbury applied to the General 
Assembly for arms and ammunition, " on account of their exposed situa- 
tion." The Assembly decided that they were " unable to furnish them."f 

On the same date last mentioned, (June 29, 1776.) an order arrived to 
raise forty-three men in this town. The quota of the First Company was 
eleven. They were destined for Ticonderoga, and marched July 23d. 
Their government pay was nine pounds per month. The following were 
furnished by the above company: — James Brickett, Brig. Gen. ; Doct 

o They purchiiscd twenty-five "Fiic iirms," nt a cost of seventy-five shillings each. The money wa» 
■borrowi-d for the purpose, of Niithaniel Marsh. 

t Siveriil British vessels had already been taken by privateers and brought into Newburyport; and but 
a few days before, a Newburyport privateer, (the Yankee Hero) after a sharp engagement, had stiuck to 
a lii'itish frigate. 



HISTORY OV HAVERHILL. 895 

Jolm Wiagate, Ens Abraham Sweat, James Eix, Nathan Ayer, Benja 
Moores, jr, John Grige, Peter Middleton, Dudley Duston, Joshua Mooers, 
James Clements, and Doct Pecker. 

Eix was hired by Isaac Redington and Enoch Marsh ; Ayer, by Deacon 
John Ayer; Benj Mooers, Jr., by Benj. Mooers and Samuel Souther; 
Grage by D.iniel D. E:>gers and Phineas Cirleton ; Middlcton, by John 
Sawyer and Joseph Dodge ; Duston. by Nathl. Marsh and Israel Bartlett ; 
Joshua Mooers, by Isaac Osgood ; Clements, by John White ; and Pecker, 
by James Duncan. 

On the -ith of July, the members of the Continental Congress affixed 
their names to the Diclarathii of Tndipiniincz, and the last hope of 
reconciliation with the mother country expired. But, as we have seen, this 
town was prepared to do its part in the contest, and cheerfully and 
promptly furnished "men and material" whenever called upon. They 
had early put their hands to the plough, and during the whole of the long 
and bloody struggle, we do not find the least sign or symptom of an 
inclination to look bach. 

On the 18th of July, order was received from Colonel AVhittier-' to draft 
every twenty-fifth man, destined for Ticonderoga. John Bailey, Thomas 
Hopkins, and Nathaniel Bodge, were drafted from the first compan}'-, and 
marched on the 17th of August. On the 2oth of the same month, every 
twenty-fifth man was raised, and marched for Dorchester. On the 22d of 
September, an order was received to raise every fifth man in tlie town, 
under fifty years of age, destined for New York. The quota of the First 
Company was twelve, and it was so classed that three men were to furnish 
one soldier each, and twenty-two were to furnish nine. In December, 
another was received, to raise every fifth man in the town, to march to 
New Jersey. The quota of the First Company was again twelve ; three of 
whom marched, .and the others employed substitutes. 

o The following letter, from Colonel Whittier, will be read witli interest. Though excused from 
marching to the field, he appears to have continued in charge of the home regiment : — 

" To the Honorable James Warren Esqr Speaker. — To be communicated to the Honorable House of 
Representatives at Watertown. 
Gentlemen, — 

I have very lately heard that I am appointed to the command of a Regiment for the Canada 
Expedition. I most sincerely it hcarlily thank the Honoble Court, for their repeated Honors done me — 
and should gladly hive accepted the appointment — were it not, that my Health ot late, has so far tailed 
me. that at present, I find myself nn.tble to perform a Jcmriioy of Twenty Miles without much difficulty 
& delay, — notwithstanding my willingness to assist in this (as I appreJKiul) just & rightcuus Cause — 
yet the great it constant care of a Rf;:-ment, ife the Fat'gues of such a long Jnurney. render it impossible 
formr to-accept the Invitation, with honor to niyst-lf, & any Adv.antage to the rnivmic. — tlKreture I 
trust, that the Hunoralib' Court will justify me, in declining to acci'pt, at present, of such an appuinlmcnt. 

Gentlemen, That yon m ly hive all that wisdimi which is proffitable to direct, — & that the .-Vni. riran 
Arms may be crowned with Victory i Success, is the Ardtut I'rayer of Your most humble A iil)i(liiut 
Servant " JOHN WHiTTiEK. 

Haverhill, July 1st, 1776." 



396 



niSTORT OF HAVERHILL. 



From the index to the Muster Eolls of Colonel Nixon's regiment, in 
177G, — -which rolls arc now in the possession of the Antiquarian Society, 
of Worcester, Mass., — we copy the following names of those who were from 
this town. The whole number is 63 : — 

Joseph Ayer, Sergt, in Capt Gilman's Company. 

The following were all in the Company of Captain Moses McFarland, 
also of this town. 



Joseph Wood, 1st Jjicut Peter Cushing, 



Dudley Tyler, 2d 
Josiah Jones, Sergt 
Moses Porter, " 
Jona Serjeant, " 
Eliph Cole, Corp 
John Jipson, " 
David Peaslee, " 
Wm Baker, Drummer, 
John Tjder, Tifer 
Benj Burnham, Servant 
William Ayer, Private 
Jesse Bradly, 
Abiel Boynton, 
James Bradbry, 
Saml Baker, 
Christr Bartlett, 
Fortune Burneaux, 
George Craigc, 
Wm Cook 



Noah Church, 
James Durgen, 
Moses Downing, 
Moses Dennis, 
Beubcn Donalds, 
Joseph Elkins, 
Ebenezer Eastman, 
Alphexis Ecrren, 
Samuel Eulsom, 
Cato Frost. ^'"^ 
Grant Duncan, 
Joseph Johuson, 
Cato Kittredge,'-' 
Benj Long, 
Thos McWhitc, 
Hugh McDurmid, 
Joseph Morse, 
Samuel Marble, 
Benj Pettengill, 



Charles Pierce, 
Daniel Ecmick, 
Wm Serjeant, 
Wm Smith, 
John Smith, 
Jeremiah Stickney, 
Josiah Stevens, 
James Smiley, 
Paul Sawyer, 
Benj a Straw, 
Daniel Tyler, 
Theodore Tyler, 
Thomas Tyler, 
Francis Toll, 
John Taggart, 
Jona Woodman, 
Samuel Woodman, 
Jesse AVatts, 
John Wallace, 
Joshua Willett. 



Stephen Clark, 

While our town was thus freely sending its sons to the field of strife,- it 
was not neglectful of those other measures that required consideration, as 
a part of the great plan of American Independence", as may be seen by the 
following copy of the warrant for a town meeting, October 14, 177G : — 

"1st To see if the Town will Vote to give their consent that the present 
House of Eepresentatives of this State of the Massachusetts Bay in New 
England — Together with the Counsel, if they consent in One Body with 
the House and by equal Voice should consult ; agree on ; and Enact such 
a Constitution and Form of Government for this State as the said House of 
Eepresentatives and Counsel as aforesaid, on the fullest and most mature 
Deliberation shall judge will most conduce to the Safety, Peace, and 
Happiness of this State, in all after Successions and Generations: 

* Those to which a " is prefixed wore probably " colored persons," of whom there was a large number 
in the array. The first blood drawn in the Revolution, was that of a negro — Orispiis Attacks — at the 
Boston Miissr.cre, on the 5th of March, 1770. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



S97 



2dly and if Voted — Then — 

To see if the Town will Vote and direct that the same he made pnblick 
for the inspection, and perusal of the Inhabitants ; before the Ratification 
thereof by the Assembly." 

Upon both of these propositions the town voted affirmatively. 

The Continental Congress having called for 88 battalions " to serve 
during the war, or for three years," fifteen of which were apportioned to 
Massachusetts, a resolve passed the Assembly Janugiry 26, 1777, making 
a requisition on the towns for "every seventh man of sixteen years old 
and upward, without any exceptions, save the people called Quakers." 

The whole number who enlisted in this town, under this requisition, was 
sixty four. The following table, prepared from the " Eegular Army List," 
gives the name, time of service, &c., of each man : — 



Names 



Bounty 
Reed 



Regiment,|Tinie ofj Time of 
Service I Enlistm'nt 



Edmund Baker, i $20 

Timothy Betle, ...... 

Samuel Buck 

Jacob Buck, 

Tortune Burnix, 

Eliphalet Buck, 

William Baker, 

Ebenr Ballard, 

"William Case, ........ ' 



Joseph Curriaur, 

Asa Currier, , 

James Clements, , 

James Clements Jr. . . 

John Dow, 

Moses Downing 

Charles Davis, 

William Davis , 

John Davis, , 

Edward Deacon, 

John Gross, 

Samuel Gage, 

Job Gage, 

AVilliam Grecnleaf,. . , 
William Hermon,.. . . . 
William Harriman Jr, 
William Harriman, . . 



20 



50 



d. de.id Name of Com- 
8. de- manders or Cap- 
serted tains 





mo. d 




9th 


14-0 


DW- 




9-18 
35-0 


3yrs 
D W 




47-0 


<< 




48-0 


<( 


<' 


11-7 


<( 


13 


12-25 


<< 


16 


43-9 


<< 


6th 
9 


12-24 
46-6 


3yrs 
D W 


<( 


11-24 


(( 


11 

11 


33-0 
5-20 


3yrs 


9 

(1 


35-0 
36-0 


(( 


(< 


45-6 


D W 


<< 


36-0 
0-0 


3yrs 

(1 


10 


36-0 


<( 


2d 


12-0 


D W 


nth 


18-16 


3yrs 


(( 


35-4 




13th 


6-15 


D W 


9 
. 9 


4-17 
46-3 


3yrs 
D W 


<( 


4-17 


3yrs 



Dix 

Blanchard 

i2dCo 



s Cogswells 

Page 

jLt Inf 
d Holden 

Carr 
d Colos Co 
Invalid Greenleaf 
d I " 

2d Co 



Carr 



4th Co 

Bradford 

Greenleaf 



d 

iDvalid ' * 

Page 
d 2d Co 



*' During the war. 



898 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



Name 




i I {d. dead Names of Com- 

Regiment Time of Time of ' s. do- manders or Cap- 
; Service Eulistm'nt serted i tains 



Perley Haynes, 

John Hutchins, 

John Hutchins, 

John Jepson, 

John Johnson 

Abner Kimball, 

Moses Keezer, 

Moses Lacount, 

Jonathan Longer, 

John Lowgee, 

John (or Jona) Moore. 

Nathaniel Moody 

Benja Moody, 

Samuel Middleton,. . . . 
. Humphrey Moody,. . . . 

"Moses Mo )res, 

Daniel Parker, 

Daniel Page, 

Benjamin Pressey, .... 

Nathan Peabody, 

"William Pecker, 

Oliver Page, 

David Peasley 

Joseph Eichards, 

James Bix, 

Jacob Piow, 

Samuel Remick 

Elias Rowell, 

Samuel Renes, 

William Smith, 

Samuel Staples, 

John Straw Jun, 

John Straw, 

John Thomas 

John Thomas, , 

John Willson, 

• Nicolus Wilcome 

James Pecker, 



50 



20 



9 

11 

13 

. 9 

11 

9 
11 

6 

9 
11 

4 
/9 

^< 

4 

8 

9 

9 

11 



13 
5 
9 



9 
13 

9 

<< 

13 



9 
(Hazens Begt) 



mo. d 
3G-0 
34-17 
15-16 

6-29 
34-7 
36-0 
34-19 

3-4 
36-0 
19-27 

0-0 
36-0 
36-0 
34-16 
36-0 
36-12 
31-0 
36-0 
34-20 
35-10 
36-0 

9-10 

0-2 
45-11 
35-4 
46-21 
14-20' 
12-20, 
35-131 
43-211 
12-0 I 
36-0 
17-11 

0-1 
48-0 

0-1 
37-14 
30-23 



3 yrs 



D W 

3 yrs 



3 yrs 
D W 
3 yrs 

n 

D W 

3 yrs 



D W 

3 yrs 
D W 

3 yrs 

D W 

3 yrs 



D AV 

3 yrs 
D W 



Blanchard 

I'riBor.er Grcculeaf 

d Smart 

d Blanchard 

inva'id Grreenleaf 

Carr 

Invalid Greenleaf 

d Daniels 

Blanchard 
d Greenleaf 
Pope 
2d Co 
2d Co 



'Page 

Wiley 

Blanchard 

Invalid Wesson 
Greenleaf 



s Page 

Col Co 

Blanchard 

!2d Co 
d I " " 
dead Blanchard 

Smart 

iBlanchard 
d 

Page 
d I " 
s Blanchard 

2d Co 
s iBlanchard 

Carr 

Hushes 



In the above list we find the names of five who deserted. As we must 
make a corresponding discount from our town's patriotic account, it is no 
small satisfaction to give their names. Here they are : — Eliphalet Buck, 



BISTOKY OF HAVERHILL. S99 

John Davis, David Peasley, John Thomas, John Wilson ! As Buck first 
served almost a year, perhaps we should have placed his name last on the 
list, instead of the first. 

At the annual meeting (1777) " Brig Gen James Brickett, Capt Timothy 
Eaton, Dea Ezra Chase, Lt Isaac Snow, Capt John Mulliken, Capt Samuel 
Merrill, and Samuel Ayer," were chosen the Committee of Correspondence 
and Safety for the year. 

In April, eleven men were drafted from this town, for two months 
service at Bristol, K. I. The following is a copy of their Pay Eoll : — 

" Pay Roll for Capt Johnson's--' Company in Coll Titcoms Ecgrat of 
Militia from the State of Massachusetts Bay to the State of Ehodisland for 
two months Service from their arrival in Providans in said State with 
addition of Days travil from their several homes to the place of Distination 
and Return home to the several towns where they came " &c. 

Bristol, June 27, 1777. 

Service. 

James Crowel, Lieut. 2mo lOd arrivd Apl 27. Dischd June 27 1777 

Benjamin Ordaway Sergt. " " " '• " '< 

Caleb Cushen, " " " '• 

John Alley, Pr. " " " " " " 

James Kimball, " " " " " " «< 

Joshuay Kimball, " " " " •* *< •• 

Daniel Adams, " " " " •« " <« 

William Sergant, " " " " '< " <• 

Daniel Mitchal, " •* " " " '« " 

Joseph Ayers, " " " " •« " '< 

Jonathan Hayns, " " " " " «< <« 

May 21, 1777, a meeting was held, principally " To see if the Town 
will Vote to instruct their Representatives to form a new Constitution of 
Government in Conjunction with the Counsel — and when so formed to be 
laid before the Town for their Inspection and Approbation or Disapproba- 
tion, or alteration before it be Enacted." 

2dly " To Chuse a Committee to see that the Regulating Act shall be 
carried into Execution, agreeable to an Act of the General Assembly." 

Upon the first article the town voted "not to instruct;" and upon the 
second, voted to choose a committee of three, to see the Act carried into 
execution. At an adjourned meeting, June 2d, " Brig Gen James 
Brickett, Capt James Sawyer, and Dea Jonathan Shepard," were chosen 
such committee. 



o Captain Samuel Johnson, of Andover. 



400 HISTORY OP HAVERniLL. 

In July, another draft was made, for men to reinforce the northern army 
till January 1st, 1778. The First Company furnished eleven. 

In September, a volunteer detachment turned out to reinforce the 
northern army. Through the kindness of John Bartlett, Esq., a son of 
Lieutenant Israel Bartlett, we are enabled to give the names of these 
volunteers, and also a copy of the Joui-nal kept by the latter, during the 
time : — 

" Sept. 1777. Eecd an invitation for half this Ecgt to turn out as vol- 
unteers to reinforce the Northern Army for 30 days after their arrival at 
head quarters : the following turned out of this company : 

Capt. Xathl Marsh, Closes Emerson, Thomas Hanes, 

Lieut. Israel Bartlett, Ebcnczr Greenough, Cotton Kimball, 

James Ayres, John Gage, Dudley Ladd Jr, 

Benj. Moors Jr, r Jacob George, Saml Souther, 

Nathan Ayers, <^. ^i^ -^^David Green. John Souther, 

Jonn Baker, >- James Haseltine, Jeremh Stiokney, 

Edmund Chase, Saml "Walker, Ebenezr Duston. 

Benj. Baker reed half a hire from David Marsh. Ebenezer Porter paid 
by Charles Haddock. Joshua Moors paid by Ebenezer Wood. Jonn Har- 
ris paid by Phineas Carlton and Enoch Marsh. Mark "Withan by Simon 
Mansies. John Clark reed 8 Dollars of J. Eeddington. Enoch Caldwell 
paid 20 Dollars. James Pell paid 20 Dollars. Marched -ith. Oct. 1777. 
"Was absent 5 weeks, hire £0.0.0. Gen. Bricket turned out at the same 
time." 

' ' Journal 
of a march in the year 1777, when the British Army Surrendered to Gen- 
eral Gates ; kept by Israel Bartlett. 

Oct. i Marched, put up at Osgood's in Andover. 

5 Marched and put up at Bedford. 

6 Breakfasted at Concord ; Dined at Stow ; poor house, but fine peo- 

ple — Put up at Bolton, good house — 

7 Breakfasted at Lancaster — Dined at Holton — Put up at Eutland 

at one Bartlet's, a very good farm. 

8 Breakfasted at Oakham — Passed through Newbraintrce and dined 

at Hardwick — Put up at Hinse's in Greenwich — 

9 Breakfasted at Amherst — passed through Hadley and put up at 

Northampton. 

10 Dined at Chesterfield — Stop'd and baited at Partridgeficld — Put 

up at Worthington — 

11 Put up at Pittsfield — 



HISTOET OF HAVERHILL. 401 

12 Marched to Hancock — Stopd & viewed tte spring & dined atPhil- 

lipstown, put up at ditto — 

13 Settled all accounts in Company — Arrived at the New City of 

Albany & passed over the North Eivcr, and put up at Half 
Moon — 

14 Marched and arrived at the Old Camp at Stillwater. 

15 Marched and arrived at Head Quarters at 12 O'Clock. Encamped 

in the Woods — Good House & Grand fire. 

1 6 A fine morning, opens with expectations of seeing Mr. Burgoyne & 

all his troops in our possession this day — 10 O'clock, we were 
alarmed and ordered to turn out, for that Gen. Burgoyne had 
refused to sign the capitulation, and hostilities would Com- 
mence in one hour. Defered till 1 2 O'clock — Sunset; news 
again, that the articles arc signed — General orders, that men lay 
on their arms, for the Gcnerijl suspects treachery. 

17 Parade at 10 O'clock to receive Gen. Burgoyne, who accordingly 

arrived at 12 O'clock, and the troops folloAved at three O'Clock. 
we are ordered to draw three days provision, and march in order 
to take charge of the prisoners, who are to march to Boston. 

18 Marched to Stillwater — This day very fatiguing. Encamped this 

night 

19 Marched this day at 1 O'Clock 8 miles and encamped in the woods. 

20 Marched this morning & gained 10 miles, which brought us to the 

front of the army at a place called St. Croix. 

21 Marched 18 miles to Williamstown, through a severe snow storm, 

put up at a very good house — 
;22 Halted all day at Williamstown to draw provisions — 

23 Marched at 10 O'Clock towards Lanesborough — The army in two 

divisions ; we in the rear of the first division. 

24 Marched 7 miles to Pittsfiekl and halted at good quarters — 

25 Saturday. We marched to Worthington 20 miles, through exceed- 

ingly bad mountains and deep jnud — We marched late, but got 
good quarters — 

26 Sunday we rested — The people very religious. We are to march 

tomorrow to Northampton, 

27 Monday. We marched to Northampton to day, 18 miles, through 

th'e rain & mud, very fatguining. Arrived at 2 O'Clock — 
Three men left came up to day and tell us that the people, we 
thought religious, deny our paying reckoning. 
51 



402 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

28 Tuesday. We rested at Hampton all day on account of a very 

severe storm of rain and snow. 

29 Wednsday. "We are ordered to advance in front. IVe marched 

and crossed the river at 10 o'clock, and advanced four miles from 
Hadley : place called Amherst. 

30 Thursday. We marched thro' Belcher and Ware and put up at 

Weston, about 20 miles from Amherst. 

31 Friday We marched 1^ mile and halted in front of the British 

Army — Breakfasted & marched to the furthest part of Brookfield 
1 1 miles from our last quarters. Were forced to march 4 or 5 
miles further than we intended, for want of quarters. 
Xov. 1 Saturday — We marched 1^^ mile to Spencer & halted all the rest of 
day to draw provisions ; the commisary being absent, could not 
draw 

2 We drew one day's provision and marched thro' Leicester and 

halted at Worcester, 14 miles from our last quarters. 

3 Monday. We mai-ched to Northborough and halted 10 miles from 

our last quarters. 

4 Tuesday — Marched from Northborough to Marlborough, 8 miles and 

halted — we are mustered and obliged to march, occasioned by 
the Artillery's advancing beyond the lines set — we marched 5 
miles and halted at Sudbury. 

5 Wedny. Marched to Watertown, 5 miles from Cambridge, 

6 Thursday we marched to prospect hill in Charlestown, through rain 

and mud, the worst day's march we have had; we expected ta 
continue till rested, and draw provisions, as we had none since 
we left Brookfield : but on our return from Prospect Hill a Maj, 
of Brigade overtook us and dismissed us, with the General's 
thanks; but the provision would have done us more good, as 
little could be procured at Cambridge." 
The closing paragraph of the Journal affords us an opportunity to say 
that General Brickett, who commanded the escort of the prisoners, seriously 
embarrassed himself by advancing large sums of money from his private 
purse, and contracting obligations to furnish necessary provisions and 
accommodations for the troops, during this long and tedious march, ^or 
all this, he nei^er received one penny ! Massachusetts claimed that it be- 
longed to the United States government to reimburse him ; and Congress 
was pleased to refuse to allow him the claim, on the ground that General 
Brickett was not an United States officer, but under commission from 
Massachusetts I Between the two, the General's just claim fell to the 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 403 

ground, and to this day tas never been paid. When Congress afterward 
pensioned the soldiers of the Ecvolutiou, General Brickett was urged to 
seoure one for himself, as he could readily do so, but he indignantly 
refused to accept a pension, while his higher claim was ignored by the 
government. 

The following, copied from the original in the State Archives, arc well 
worth a place in our pages : — 

" To the Honorable General Court Xow sitting in Boston. 

The petition of B. G. James Brickctt Humbly Sheweth, That 
whereas in obedience to a Eesolve of the Genl Court in the year 1777, for 
Eeinforcing the Korthern Army, then under the command of General 
Gates, I marched with a number of Men, and joined said army, soon after 
which the articles of Convention between Mr General Gates and Gen 
Burgoyn were Exchanged, after which by the General's Direction, I re- 
cieved orders to take ye command of the Escort for Gen Burgoyn's troops 
from Saratoga to Boston, which Business was compleated as Expeditious as 
possible, for which Services I have not Eecieved any Eecompense. Not- 
withstanding the aplication made to Generals Heath & Glover — who I 
considered as the proper persons to apply to • — wherefore this is to beg you 
would consider of the affair & Grant such compensation, as you in your 
wisdom shall think proper for said services, & the Necessary Extra Ex- 
penses I was at — and your petitioner as in Duty Bound will ever pray 
Dated Haverhill . James Brickett 

March 27th 1780 

"I do hereby Certify; That Brigadier General James Brickctt, was 
appointed to ye Command of about five Hundred Militia, Detached from 
General Gates army, to Guard a Division of ye Convention Troops, from 
Saratoga to Cambridge, in Octobr 1777 — which Charge he executed with 
Judgment and Prudence Jno. Glover 

B General 
Marblehead 29 Apl 1780 

" State of Massachusetts Bay 
In the House of Eepresentatives May — 1780 

On the Petition of Brigr James Brickett 
Kesolved that Brigr James Brickett be allowed for his Services in Eein- 
forcing the Northern Army under the Command of Major Genii Gates ; 
that he be permitted to make up a Eolle as Brigr and Exhibit the some to 
the Committee on Eolles for allowance ; & the Trear is hereby ordered 
to charge the same to the Continent." 



404 HISTORY OF nATERHILL. 

General Brickett afterward wrote that he would make up his Rolls as' 
soon as he received returns of " parts of one or two Eegiments." This is 
as far as we can trace the matter. For reasons above given, he finally 
failed to receive his well-earned wages. 

But to return to our town. October 6, 1777, a meeting was warned, 

" 1st. To see if the Town will carry into Execution a late Act of the 
Great and Genl Court, intitled an Act for the Securing this and the Other 
United States against the Danger to which they arc Exposed by the inter- 
nal Enemies thereof : 

2dy To see if the Town will chuse some One Person to collect Evidence 
against those Persons that may be deemed Enimical to their Country, as 
directed by the said Act : 

3dy. To see if the Town will chuse a Committee to Supply the Soldiers 
Families that are gone into the Continental Service, agreeable to a Eesolve 
of the General Com-t of this State." 

Upon the first and second articles, the vote was in the affirmative ; and 
Thomas "West was chosen to collect evidence, agreeably to the second article. 

At an adjourned meeting, held October 20th, a committee of ten were 
chosen " to supply the families of such non-commissioned & private sol- 
diers as are in the Continental Service." The following are the names of 
the committee : — Thomas West, Deacon Moses Clement, Edward Ordway, 
John Mitchell, John Smith, Jr., Jonathan Webster, Esq., Mr. Isaac Eed- 
ington, Captain Timothy Eaton, Deacon Ezra Chase, and Lieutenant Isaac 
Snow. 

January 12, 1778, a town meeting was called, 

" To see if the Town will take into consideration the Proposals of the 
Continental Congress in entering into a Confederation, and perpetual 
Union between the States, and to give Instructions to their Eeprcsentativcs 
how to act for or against it." 

The following named persons were chosen a committee "to peruse the. 
Articles of Confederation, and give their Eepresentative Instructions 
Eespecting them " : — Hon. Judge N. P. Sargeant, Brigadier-General 
James Brickett, Major Enoch Bartlett, Samuel White, Esq., Mr. Joseph 
Haynes, Captain Samuel Merrill, Mr. James Duncan, Doctor William 
Bachellor, Deacon Ezra Chase. The meeting then adjourned for one week. 

January 19th, the inhabitants of the town met, according to adjourn- 
ment, and passed the following : — 

'• Voted, That a Union of the Thirteen independant American States is 
a Ma~tter of the greatest importance for the defence and Protection of this 
and the Other American States: 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 405 

Voted, That the Confederation, or Plan of Union formed hy the Honble 
Congress, and laid before the Town, is in general very agreeable. Though 
in some respects we could wish it altered : 

Voted, as the Opinion of this Town, that the Larger States in this Con- 
federacy Ought to have votes in Congress, in, or near the proportion of the 
Taxes they pay for the Common Defence. — that it appears necessary 
some Plan or Mode should be added to the Confederation for compelling 
such States as shall be defective in Raising Men, or Money for the common 
Defense, to perform their Duty : Lastly 

Voted, that our Eepresentative be Instructed, in Conjunction with the 
Other Representatives of this State, to Authorize our Delegates, or any 
Number of them in Congress, to confirm and establish this Confederation, 
or Plan of Lnion, with such alterations and Amendments as the General 
Assembly may think necessary. 

The Moderator dismissed the meeting." 

At the annual March meeting, the following were chosen the Committee 
of Correspondence and Safety: — Brigadier-General James Brickett, 
Captain Timothy Eaton, Deacon Ezra Chase, Isaac Snow, John Saw- 
yer, Captain Samuel Merrill, Joseph Pike. 

The renunciation of allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain, rendered 
it necessary for all the American colonies to establish, as soon as practica- 
ble, independent governments, for the protection and security of the people 
and their interests. The growing necessity of a Constitution, or Form of 
Government, for Massachusetts, led the General Court, in June, 1776, to 
appoint a committee to prepare one. But as the opinion was generally 
expressed that the subject should originate with the people, the business 
was not proceeded in by the committee. The House contented itself with 
recommending the people to choose their deputies to the next General 
Court with power to adopt a form of government for the State. This 
recommendation was renewed more formally the next spring. In the in- 
terval, a convention of the Committees of Safety of a majority of the 
towns in the State, met at "Worcester, and voted that it would be improper 
for the existing General Court to form a constitution, but that a conven- 
tion of delegates from all the towns should be called for that special 
purpose. 

. A majority of the towns having chosen their representatives with a 
special, or, at least, implied consent, to form a constitution, the General 
Court at their next session appointed a committee for that purpose. The 
result was, that a draught was agreed upon, approved by a convention, 
and submitted to the people. 



406 HISTORY OP HATERHILL. 

April 13, 1778, a town meeting was held 

" 1st To see if the Town will vote to accept of the New Form of Govern- 
ment lately proposed by the Convention of this State : 

2d. To see if the town will vote to joyn in a Convention of this County, 
to be held at Ipswych on the 15th Instant, relating to the new Form of 
Government, proposed by the Convention of this State, as recommended to 
us from the Select Men of Newbury Port." 

" Voted, not to act on the 1st Article. Voted, not to comply with the 
Eequest of the Select Men of Newbury Port &c." 

The meeting was then dismissed. 

May 21st, another meeting was called to consider the subject. The 
warrant for the meeting directed " all Male Inhabitants being free and 
Twenty one Years of Age To take into their deliberate Consideration the 
Constitution and Form of Government agreed upon by the Convention of 
this State on February last ; to see if the town will approve of the same." 

The Clerk records : — "At the Request of the Moderator, I read the 
Form of Government proposed. After some talk, & without any Vote 
being tried, the meeting was adjourned to Monday next." 

Monday, June 8th, the town again met, and proceeded to vote upon the 
proposed Constitution. The result was seven votes for, and sixty-three 
against it. The record gives us no clue to the reasons for this strong oppo- 
sition to the new Constitution, but we find that throughout the State the 
general objections against it were, that it contained no declaration of 
rights ; that the principle of representation was unequal ; and that the 
powers and duties of the legislators and rulers were not clearly and accu- 
rately defined. Besides, the opinion was still general, that such a 
Constitution should be framed by a convention of delegates, chosen directly 
by the people. The vote in the State stood ten thousand against the con- 
stitution, and two thousand in its favor ; and one hundred and twenty 
towns made no return. 

While the people were thus laboring to establish a proper form of 
state government for themselves, they were at the same time making the 
most vigorous efi"orts to establish their national independence, as may be 
seen from what follows : — 

May 5th, a meeting was held to see what the town would do about 
" procuring fifteen soldiers for the Continental Army, which this Town is 
obliged to Eaise." 

After voting that they would raise the men required, it was 

" Voted that the Militia Officers of the Companies of this Town be em- 
powered to procure by hiring, sd soldiers, on the most reasonable Terms, 
at the Charge of the Town : 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 



407 



Voted tLat the Town Treasurer be directed to hire & furnish sd Officers 
with such sums of Money as may be necessary for raising sd Men : The 
Officers to be accountable to the Town, for such sums of Money as they 
shall recieve." 

The meeting then adjourned for one week. At the adjourned meeting, 
the treasurer was directed " to hire Money as soon as possible, to enable 
the Officers to raise Soldiers"; — and the militia officers were ordered 
" to raise Men for the Militia Service, by hiring, at the Charge of the 
Town." 

On the succeeding page of the town records, we find a list of the names of 
those of whom the treasurer borrowed money. It is as follows : — 

" According to a Vote of the Town in the last Meeting, held on May 5, 
1778, I borrowed Money of the following Persons, viz. 



13 Eevd Gyles Merrill 


£ 75 


Isaac Eedington 


^18 


Capt Jas Sawyer 


100 


Langley Kelley 


90 


Jno Farnham 


200 


13 Edmd Kimball 


30 


Israel Burtlet 


30 


16 David Brown 


30 


14 Daniel Lord 


25 


Anthony Chase 


100 


15 Saml Jackman 


45 


Austin George 


39 


Willm Morse 


68.2 


Capt Jas Sawyer 


60 


Gideon George 


180 


William Appleton 


30 


18 James Whittaker 


30 


Caleb Cushing 


150 


19 Mrs Anna Gushing 


• 57.7 


July 2 Mehitable Carleton 


36 


Charles Haddock 


100 


4 Lieut Israel Bartlctt 


30 


21 Thomas Whittaker 


15 


13 Capt Daniel Eames 


15 


Capt Timo Johnson 


90 


Capt Nat Marsh 


30 


23 Thomas Sargent 


30 


Capt Daniel Johnson 


58.18 


Saml Jackman 


9 


James Ayer 


30 


Joel Harriman 


30 


Joseph Snow 


19 


25 Timothy Ayer 


60 


Simon Hariman 


10 


36 Ephraim Brown 


40 


Jno Whittier Jur 


5 


. Samuel Eames Jur 


70 


Israel Bartlett 


35 


28 James Kimball 


60 


14 Ebeor Gage 


■36 


Benja Baker 


60 


Joseph Youring 


90 


29 Frances Smiley 


70 


18 Jona Sawyer 


40 


Jno Baker 


70 


31 Ebenr Gage Jur 


15 


30 Eachel Duston 


12.12 Aug 5 Bradley Mitchell 


18 


1 Caleb Cushing 


20 


10 Abigail Smiley 


48.14 


2 David Smiley 


55 


Sept 1 1 Dea Jo Kelley 


15 


3 Deacon Ezra Chase 


50 


24 Joseph Hall 


11.8 


8 Samuel Ela 


90 


Daniel Carleton 


21 


10 Levi Senter 


62 


Stephen Cai-leton 


SO 


Zebadiah Barker 


30 


John Emery 


30 


Capt Saml ]\Ierrill 


19.16 


Deacn Jos Kelley 


20 


James Pecker 


30 


26 John Ayer 


21 



403 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



30 Dca Ezra Chase 


54 


Apl 17 JnoBrickett 


60 


Kov 23 Willm Chase 


30 


May 31 "Widow Phebe Hatch 626 


Dec 1 Jona Simmons 


30 


June 1 2 Langlcy Kellcy 


90 


31 Moses Simmons 


12 


July 12 John Gross 


282 


1779. 




Edmd Baker 


150 


Jan 12 Capt Daniel Johnson 


16.4 


Nat Soley 


282 


14 "William Chdse 


30 


Eben Bradbury 


45 


Mar 16 Widow Sarah Ayer 


129.6 


Mary Baker 


12 


April 9 Francis Smiley 


30.10 


1 13 Daniel Quimby 


200 


David Smiley 
May 1 Benja Baker 


15 






75 




£4963.5 


May 13 Nehemiah Simmons 


51 







The drafts upon the town this year were by no means light. In March, 
two men were detached to serve as guards at Cambridge. In April, an 
order was received to raise fifteen men in this town, to complete the fifteen 
batallions which were raising for the continental army. The town voted 
a bounty of one hundred pounds to each soldier who would enlist. They 
were to serve nine months' after their arrival at Fishkill. Thos'e who were 
detached from the First Company, were Nathan Kimball, Thomas Sargent, 
William Appleton, Moses Harriman, Gilbert Bond, Ephraim H. Brown, 
Samuel Fames, Francis Smiley, Jeremiah Davis, Edward Baker, jr., and 
Daniel Quimby. In May, another order was received for a detachment of 
ten men, to serve eight months after their arrival at Peekskill. The town 
voted a bounty of ninety pounds to each soldier that would enlist. The 
following enlisted in this service : — 

Samuel Ela, Robert Griffin, David , 

Abraham Silver, Levey Senter, 

Zebadiah Barker, jr., James Pecker, 

In July, twelve men were detached for Rhode Island. The following 
gives their names. They are copied from " A Muster Roll of Capt Jona- 
than Fosters Company of Col Nathl "Wades Regt of the Mass Troops now 
in the Service of the United States. Stationed in Middlcton in the State 
of Rhode Island for the term of Six months from the first of July 1778." 
Sergt John Whittier enlisted July 1 Pr Parker Xoyes enlisted July 1 



Pr John Berry 


<( 


" 9 


" Jonathan Silver 




" 9 


*' John Gage 


•' 


" 9 


" Joseph Snow 




" 9 


" Simon Herriman 


♦' 


" 9 


'* Theodore Tyler 




" 9 


" Peter Middlcton 


>i 


" 1 


" Mark Witham 




" 9 


** Joshua Moore 


(( 


" 11 


.** Ebenr Webster 




" 9 



In the same month, six men marched to Cambridge, and were paid by 
the town, and six men were detached from the First Company, to serve 
six weeks at Rhode Island. In September, nine men marched from this 
town, three from the First Company, to serve at Boston till the 1st of 
January, 1779. 



msTOllY OJ- HAVERHILL. 409 

To rais3 mon and money for tliese frequent drafts, required the exertion 
of every nerve, — hut it was done. The following items will show some- 
what of the expenses of the town for the national cause, this year: — 

Sixty pounds were paid to four men, who served • as guards at Cam- 
bridge." Oae huudred and twenty pounds were paid to eight soldiers, 
"who " served about Boston." Seven pounds eleven shillings were paid to 
two men for " going to Boston ; " these were probably Simon Harriman, 
and Joseph Snow, who enlisted, July 3d, for a six mouths' service, and 
were paid fifty-five pounds each by the town, in addition to their expenses 
to Boston. Xine soldiers enlisted in the militia, and were paid by the 
towa. The amount paid them was five hundred and ninety pounds. For 
the fifteen soldiers for the continental army, the town paid fifteen hundred 
pounds. Two men served on AYinter Hill five months, to whom the town 
paid fifty pounds ; they were Daniel Adams and Samuel Le Courts Eight 
men served in the militia three months, and were paid three hundred and 
twenty-four pounds. Six men marched to Providence, and were paid 
three huudred and thirty pounds. On the 30th of June, the town raised 
two thousand and six hundred pounds to defray the charges " it had been 
at in procuring soldiers for the continental army and for the service of the 
state." It was also voted " to raise £500 to hire the soldiers this town is 
now obliged to raise." On the 19th of July, six soldiers were hired, to 
be stationed at Cambridge, to whom the town paid one hundred and ten 
pounds. 

Besides these expenses, the town paid several hundred pounds for sup- 
plies to the families of soldiers. This year there were at least ten such 
families principally supported by the town.--- 

But we find no symptom of a murmur. At a meeting in September, 
the militia officers were dii-ected *' to hire any detachments ordered by 
authority, at any time," and the treasurer " to pay what money was neces- 
sary for them." If he had no money, he was "to hire some." 

In June of this year, the Greneral Court made a requisition on the towns 
for clothing for the soldiers of the army. This town came up promptly 
at the call, and we find in a single receipt, dated December 11, 1778, the 
items — 150 shirts, 91 pr shoes, and 57 pair stockings sent from Haver- 
hill. 

The whole expenses of the town for soldiers this year, was upwards of 
thirty-one hundred pounds ! 



o From September 1st, 1777, to March 1st, 1779, the town paid for this purpose £934.2.0. The whola 
»i'.ii!i!)rr of families was foui-tcen. The sum paid from October, 1779, to January, 1780, was £137.4.6. 



410 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL 



At the annual meeting in 177f>, Thomas West, Lieutenant Peter Carl- 
ton, Colonel John Whitticr, Captain Samuel Merrill, Phinehas Carlton, 
Isaac Snow, and Samuel A\-er, Jr., were chosen the Committee of Corre- 
spoudence and Safety.-"' 

The committee to supply the families of those soldiers from the town, 
who were in the army, were Mr. John AVhite, merchant, Ebcnezer Gage, 
Senr., Jonathan Duston, Deacon Benjamin Clements, Captain Samuel 
Merrill, Samuel Ayer, Jr., Anthony Chase, Captain Joseph Eaton, Eichard 
Kimball, "William Ladd, Elias Johnson, Lieutenant Jonathan AVcbster, 
and Simon Ayer. 

The militia officers were again ordered to hire what men the town should 
be called on to furnish, and the treasurer was directed to pay the bills for 
the same. 

The following account of bounties paid by this town, between Febru- 
ary, 1777, and March, 1778, is copied .from the book of the province 
treasurer : — ■ 



Soldiers Xames 
Jacob Row 


Amt 
Bounty 

£14 


Time 

r when 

paid 

Feb 10 


Soldiers Names 
Eeubn Sillaway 


Amt 
Bounty 

14 


Time 
whett 
paid 

Mar 


Eobt Martin 


15 


" 15 


Abner Kimbal 


14 


n 


David Peaslee 


14 


Mar 20 


Benj Moody 


" 


11 


Samuel Buck 


14 


Feb 13 


Eobt Brant 


<< 


(( 


John Tyler 


14 


Mar 


Katl Peas Moody 


<i 


(t 


William Baker 


14 


Feb 25 


Jos Currier 


" 


(( 


Jno Dow, Sergt 


14 


'« 17 


John Johnson 


7 


it 


Moses Kezar 


14 


" 3d 


Willm Davis 


12 


n 


John Thomas 


7 


" 11 


Danl Parker 


15 


"■ 


Saml Eemicks 


14 


Feb 24 


Chase Pilsbury, 


" 


(< 


John Straw 


14 


" 10 


John HutchinsJur 


12 


it 


John Straw Jur 
Joua Dustan 
Moses Lacount 


14 

87 
14 


" 10 
Aug 10 
Apl 19' 


Joseph Young 
/Humphrey Moody 
Saml Staples 


15 
14 
21 


(( 

i( 

May 


Job Gage 


6 


Jany — 


James Eix, Sargt 


14 


Feb 14 


Thos Hopkins 


— 




Jonathan Loughlur 


21.10 


Apl 






1778 


John Loughar 


21.10 


Apl 


Saml iliddleton Jur 


90 


Mar 14 


AViugate Bradley 


16.1C 


1 " 


Thos Thornton 


3.1 


1777 
2 May 


Nathl Peabody 
AVilliam Case 


16.10 
15 


1 <* 


"Wm Huston 


17.2 


June 


Saml Bradley Fulsom 15 


<( 


Saml Midilton 
Danl Page 
Chas Davis 


30 
14 


Apl 
Mar 


Hollaway 

Moses AVorthing 
Ebenezer Ballard 


15 
12 
15 


Apl 



° At the adjonrncd meeting, March 2Cth, n new committee was chosen, consisting of Gcnenil James 
Brickett, Captain Samuel Merrill, Deacon Ezra Chase, Isaac Snow, John Sawyer, Captain Timothy EatOB 
and James Fike. Xo reason is given for choosing a new committee for this purpose. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



411 



Soldiers Names 

John Berry 
John Stanford 


Amt 
Bounty 

15 


Time 
when 
paid 

Apl 

<< 


Joshua Henshaw 


,, 


<( 


John Hutchins 


15 


Apl 


Eichd Jose 


<( 


. " 


"William Gould 


ti 


<( 


Joseph Eichards 
Wm Smith Price 




<< 


Moses Downing 


14 


FelD 1 


William Harriman 


30 


Apl 


Timothy Bedle 
Peter Carlton 


18 
24 


May 


Pearlcy Haynes 
Lott Ayer 
Fortune Brennux 


36 

30 
30 




Isaac Thompson 


30 





14 



Soldiers Names 

John Gibson 

Saml Barber 

Elias Rowell 

John Wilson 

James Clements 

Saml Gage 

Oliver Page 

James Clements Jur 14 

John Graham 

Jacob Buck Jur 

AVilliam Pecker 

Willm Harriman Jur 

"Willm Greenleaf Jf 

Benj Pressey 

John Lee 



Amt 
Bounty 

30 
45 


Time 
■when 
paid 

:May 


24 
30 
14 
18 


Apl 

May 

Apl 




8 


<< 




' 14 


<c 






Feb 


19 




Mar 


10 




a 


25 


r " 


Feb 


13 


.;= « 


Mar 


11 



15 Feb 15 



The complaints of the people in most of the States had become so loud 
and so general, on account of the prevalence of extortion and monopoly, 
growing out of the depreciation of the paper money,f that Congress deemed 

'^ Lieutenant William Greenleaf entered the service as a private, January, 1776. He was appointed 
Ensign soon after, and subsequently commissioned as Lieutenant. He was in the battle at Gowrnor's 
Island; at Haarlem Heights ; at the taking of Burgoyne; carried the standard of his reg'mtnt at Mon- 
mouth ; and was in the memorable Retreat from Long Island. He left the scr'ice in 17S3. and returned 
to his native town, where he was for many years tlie popular landlord of Greenleaf s Tavern (where the 
Chase Block now stands). He was a brave officer, and a kind and gentlemanly citizen and neighbor. He 
died in 1832. 

t As a paper of no ftnall historical value and interest, we copy the following table from the book of 
our Town Treasurer. It was evidently prepared for his own convenience. 

" Scales of Depreciation. The Worth of £100 in Paper Money, when reduced to Solid Coin, at the 
rate of Six Shillings & Eight Pence for one ounce of Silver." 



1777 


Mass 


New Hamp 


Congress 


1779 


Mass 


NH 


Congress 


January 


95.+.9 


Equal 


No Depreci- 


Jan 


13.10 




13.9.7 


Veh 


93.11.0 


96.3.1 


ation till 


Feb 


luio.e 




11.10.5 


Mar 


91.14.11 


94.6.9 


October 


Mar 


10 




10 


Apr 


89.5.8 


90.18.1 




Apt 


9.11.1 




9.1.2 


May 


87 


, 87.14.4 




May 


8.4.7 




8.4.7 


June 


83.6.8 


'Same as 




June 


7.9 




7.9 


July 


80 


Mass to 




July 


6.15.8 




6.15.5 


Aug 


66 13.4 


December 




Aug 


6.2.7 




6.2.7 


Sept 


57.2.10 


1779 




Sept 


5.11 




5.11 


Oct 


36.7.3 




91.3.4 


Oct 


4.18.5 




4.18.5 


Nov 


33.6.8 




82.6.8 


Nov 


4.6.8 




4.7 


Dec 


32..5.2 




76.9.S 


Dec 


3.17.3 




3.17.2 


1778 








1780 








Jan 


30.15.5 




68.11.8 


Jan 


3.8.1 


3.8.1 


3.8.0 


Feb 


28.U.5 




62.8.2 


Feb 


3.0.3 


3.0.2 


3 


Mar 


26.14 




57.2.10 


Mar 


2.13.6 


2.13.6 


2.13.7 


Apl 


25 




49.7.6 


Apl 


2.10 


210 


2.10 


May 


25 




43.9 


May 




2.1.8 




June 


25 




37.16 


June 




1.15 




July 


23.10 




33 0.7 


July 




1.13.4 




Aug 


22.4.5 




28.14 


Aug 




1.11.8 




Sept 


21.1 




25.0.2 


Sep 




1.10.9 




Oct 


20 




21.10.5 


Oct 




1.9.1 




Nov 


18.6.11 




18.7 


Nov 




L8.6 




Dec 


15.15.5 




15.15.6 


I J)«c 




1.7.4 





412 niSTORY OF nATTERniLL, 

rp^?r?a^w^ statutes necessary, and in January, 1779, (liviclcd lie tln'rtccn 
States into two districts, advising that a conA-cntion Ic held in each, to fix 
and regulate the prices of the common articles of .living. A convention 
for the northern district was held at New Haven, who formed a plan for 
regulating prices and preventing extortion. This plan was adopted by 
most of the States composing the district. The legislature of Massachu- 
setts approved of it, and passed a law on the subject, and on the 12th of 
April a meeting was called " To see if the Town will choose one or more 
Persons as a Committee t© prevent monopoly & Fore Stalling agreeable to 
a late Eesolve of the General Court." 

The town voted to choose a committee of three persons for the above 
px;rposc, and the following were so chosen : — Captain Xathaniel Marsh, 
Joseph Bradley, and Captain John Mullaken. 

In May, two meetings were held to consider the subject of a State Con- 
stitution. The record is so brief, that we copy it entire : — 

"At a legal Town Meeting, held in Haverhill on Tuesday the 18th Day 
of May, 1779, warned by the Constable by Virtue of a Warrant recieved 
from the Select Men. 

Doctr James Brickett was chosen Moderator. 

" The two following Particulars are the Articles contained in the War- 
rant. 

Viz. 1st. To see whether the Town Chuses at this Time to have a new 
Constitution, or Form of Government made. 

2d. To see whether the Town will impower their Representative for 
the next year, to vote for the calling a State Convention, for the Sole 
Purpose of forming a new Constitution; Provided it shall appear, on 
Examinaition, that a major Part of the People present, and voting, shall 
have answered the first article in the Affirmative. 

"After somo Time bcitig spent in debating on the proceeding Articles, 
tbe Moderator tried a Vote on the first Article, & in order to ascertain 
tbe Number voting each Way, the House was divided, and the Numbers 
were equal, viz. Forty one for having a new Constitution, or Form of 
Government, and Forty one against it. 

The Moderator dismissed the meeting." 

" 1779. May 31. 

The Select Men called another Meeting of the Inhabitants qualified 
by Law to vote for Eepresentatives, for the same Purpose of the last 
Meeting. Mr Isaac Osgood was chosen Moderator. The Votes were, 
Thirty five for having a new Constitution or Form of Government; and 



HISTORY OP HATERHILL. 41 3 

Sixty one against having it made at present. On Motion made wliether 
the Totvn would give Instructions to their Ecpresentative about this Affair, 
it was voted in the Negative. 

The Meeting was dismissed by the Moderator." 

July 12 th, a meeting was warned, 

" 1st. — To see if the Town will adopt a Plan similar to that proposed 
by the Town of Boston for appreciating the Continental Currency, and 

2d. — To see if the town will approve of the Committee of Correspon- 
dence, Inspection & Safety of this Town in sending one of their Number 
to meet a Convention of the several Committees of this State at Concord 
on the 14th of this Instant for the Purpose expressed in their Letter from 
the Committee of Boston." 

Upon both of the articles, an affirmative vote was passed. The Con- 
vention at Concord was attended by deputies from more than three-fourths 
of the towns in the State. Prices were fixed for all the products of the 
country, and those who had articles of foreign growth or manufacture to 
dispose of, were requested to have reasonable prices stated for the same. 

Notwithstanding this town voted not to have a new consitution, a major- 
ity of the towns decided otherwise, and precepts were issued for a 
Convention at Cambridge in September. ■ 

August 5 th, a meeting was held, — 

" 1st. — To see if the Town will chuse one or more Delegates to meet in 
Convention at Cambridge on the first Day of September next for the sole 
Purpose of framing a new Constitution for the Massachusetts State : 

" 2d. — To see if the Town will consider of the Doings of the Conven- 
tion which met at Concord the l-4th Day «f July last, & adopt a Plan 
proposed by said Convention for putting a Stop to the late growing evils 
amongst us : 

"3d. — To see whether the Town will chuse one or more Members to meet, 
in Convcutiou at Concord on the first "Wednesday in October next as 
recommended in a Piesolve of the late Convention held at that Place : 

" The Town being met Isaac Eedington was chosen Moderator. 

" 1st. Thehonbl Xathl Peaslee Sargeant Esqr was chosen a Delegate 
to meet at Cambridge on the first Day of September next, for the sole 
Purpose of. Framing a Constitution. 

"The 2d Article was voted in the Affirmative; and a Committee of 
Fourteen Men was chosen to see that the Eeeommendation of the Conven- 
tion is comply d with as expressed in the 4 th & oth Eesolves of said 
Convention. The following are the Persons chose for a Committee, viz 
Doctr Brickett, James Chase, Capt Timo Johnson, Aaron Carleton, Lieut 



414 DISTORT OP HAVERHIIL. 

Israel Bartlet, Capt Samuel Mcrrrill, Anthony Chase, Jona Kimball, Capt 
Nat j\[arsh, Capt Timo Eaton, Nat "Walker, Deacon Benja Clements, Jno 
Sawyer. Mr Jno "Wliitc Marcht. 

" 3d The Town made Choice of Doctr James Brickett a Delegate to 
meet the Convention at Concord the 1st Wednesday in October next." 
At a town meeting, held September 7, 1779, it was 
" Voted to accept of the Doings of the Convention of Delegates that 
met at Ipswych Aug 20, 1779 ; also of the Doings of the Committee of 
this Town chosen August 5th 1779."- 

September 17th, the General Court ordered out four hundred of the 
militia to repair and man the forts in Boston Harbor, as reports had 
been received of an intended attack by the British. This town furnished 
eight men, who served one month and ten days, viz : — 
Corp Joel Heriman, Amos Currier, Moses Moody, 

Frances Dinsmore, Levi Hastings, Trueworthy Herriman. 

Hugh Pike, Justin George, 

In October, the town was called on for nineteen men, to re-inforce the 
army in New York. They all marched before the month expired. The 
town paid them three hundred and ninety-nine pounds as bounty and mile- 
age. 

The expenses of the town this year may well be considered enormous, 
when we state that six thousand pounds were raised to defray them. To 
meet these large charges, the town was almost daily obliged to borrow 
money, as may be seen fi'om the following : — 

" Account of Persons to whom the Town is indebted for Money bor- 
rowed of 'em " : — 

1779. ' 1779 
July 2d Capt Timo Johnson £900 Sept 7 John Gross £150 
17 Capt Danl Johnson 26 27 Joseph Silver 42 
Aug 20 Deacn JoscjA Kelly 45 . Zebadiah Silver 42 
Gideon George, 30 Capt Timo Johnson 180 
21 Israel Bartlett 90 Oct 12 Gideon George 210 
23 Nathl Clarke 24 Oct 13 Edwd Ordway 203 4 
Kichd Kimball 30 AVidow Prudence Carle- 
Capt Jo Eaton 30 ton 60 
Nat Eaton 30 Deacn Ezra Chase 60 
Aaron Carlton 60 19 Sarah Levett 36 
Itharaar Emerson 48 Nov 6 Moses Simmons 90 
Daniel Appleton 150 Peter AVhittaker 30 
Edwd Baker 45 8 Ithamar Emerson 120 
Nathl Soley 60 Daniel Nickols Jun 147 
Capt Nat Marsh 30 13 Gideon George 120 
Capt Timo Johnson 90 

° The Ipswich Convention was in rclatioa to " regnlatiog prices ; " as was also the doings of the com- 
mittee above alluded to. 



. HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 415 

1780 16 Benj Ordway £120 

Jan 12 Neliemi Simmons £26 Marl Nat Walker 100 

SLirah Simmons 30 9 AVillm Sawyer 45 ■ 

26 Capt Daniel Johnson 120 Apl 4 Benja Ordway 72 

Feb 1 Wiilm Sawyer 52.10 May 2 Edwd Ordway 173 

2 Capt Daniel Jotnson 135 



AVillm Sawyer 19 Total £4070.14 

November 3d, 1779, a town meeting was called, principally 

" To see if the Town will approve of and adopt the Proceedings of the 
Convention begun and held a;t Concord on the 5th of Oct -last, & enter 
into such further Eesolves & Eegulations as the Town .may think proper 
for the more effectualy carrying the same into Effect." 

It was " voted to accept of the Proceedings of the Convention met at 
Concord, that have been published, and Chuse a Committee of Ten Men 
to affix the Prices which Merchandize & Country Produce are to be sold 
at, in this Town. The committee consists of the following Persons, viz : 
General Bricket, Capt Timo Eaton, Capt Timo Johnson, Aaron Carlton, 
Lieut Israel Bartlet, Capt Samuel Merrill, James Pike, Willm Johnson, 
Thomas West, & Bailey Bartlet." 

The meeting then adjourned to the 15th of the same month, at which 
time it was voted to " approve the Eesolves and address of the Convention 
held at Concord in October last; " and "the Proceedings of the Commit- 
tee of this Town, chosen at the last Meeting were also read, & accepted, 
by a Vote of the Town ; & a Committee of Five Men were chosen to see 
them put in Execution, & complied with. This Committee consisted of 
the following Persons, viz : Capt John Mullaken, Capt David Eemick, Mr 
Thomas West, Capt Joseph Eaton, Capt Samuel Merrill." 

" Voted, That this Committee be directed to enquire into the Proceedings 
of the Neighboring Towns, respecting this Business, & make report at the 
adjournment of this meeting." 

The meeting then adjourned to the 22d instant, at which time it was 
merely opened and again adjourned. December 6th, 

" The Moderator and the Town Clerk met at the Meeting-House at the 
Time the Meeting was adjourned to, & waited about an Hour, when no 
other Person attended, the Moderator dissolved the Meeting." 

A partial and temporary relief was afforded the people by these repeated 
efforts to regulate the price of commodities, but no permanent or general 
good was effected. 

Heavy as had been the burdens of the town thus far during the war, 
they were in nowise lighter the year following. Taxes were multiplied 
upon its inhabitants, until they were almost crushed beneath the load. 
The town's proportion of the tax laid by Congress, March 8th, was thirty. 



416 



HISTORY OF UAVERHILL. 



eight thousand eight hundred and seventy-six pounds. Ten days after> 
Congress laid another, the town's proportion of ^Yhich was thirty-nine 
thousand two hundred pounds. In July, a tax was laid to redeem a part 
of the continental bills, &c., and this town was assessed five hundred and 
four pounds, hard moneyS' In September, the town was called on to sup- 
ply sixteen thousand eight hundred pounds of beef, and they promptly 
chose a committee to purchase it. 

Lafayette having returned from France, with -the promise that another 
fleet and several thousand troops, were to be immediately sent to the aid 
of America, Washington desired to make more efl&cient efforts the coming 
campaign, and called on Massachusetts for four thousand men to re-inforce 
the army for six months. They were readily granted. The following 
were furnished by this town : — 

"Pay Eoll for the Six Months men" Belonging to the Town of Haver- 
hill 1780." 



Sartle Elexander. , 
Daniel Abbot. . . 

Noah Bailey 

Eichard Baker. . . 
John Browning. . 
William Bccard. . 
Silas Chamberlain 
Samuel Foster . . . 
Enoch Heath . . . . 
Levi Hastings. . . 
Joseph Herrimon. 
Joshua Jones . . . . 

Daniel Lord 

James Laferty. . . . 

John Moocrs 

Samuel Merrill . . 
Barthol Massey. . 

Samuel Pell 

James Springer . . 
James Scammons. 
Samuel Sargeant. 
Thomas Sargeant. 

Nathan Sola 

James Eccd 

Samuel Truck . . . 



When 
Marched 


When Discharged 


June 29 th 


Dec 10, 1780 


Sept 26 
June 29 


Apl3, 1781 
Dee 13 


• Sept 26 
" 26 


Feby 9 
Feb 9 


June 29 


Dec 23 


Sep 26 
June 29 


Mar 5 
Doc 16 


" 29 


" 6 


" 29 


" 20 


" 29 


" 18 


Sep 26 
June 29 


" 28 
'^ 6 


Sep 26 
June 29 


Apl 19 
Dec 15 


" 29 


" 8 


Sep 26 
June 29 


" 29 
" 30 


" 29 


«< 15 


" 29 


" 10 


" 29 


" 13 


«' 29 


" 13 


" 29 


" 8 


Sep 26 
•' 26 


Feb 9 
" 9 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 417 

"Within a montli after, a call was made for four thousand seven hundred 
of the militia, for three months. This town's proportion was forty-seven. ='■' 
A large number of the soldiers having about completed their term of inlist- 
mcnt, Massachusetts was called on in December for four thousand two 
hundred men to serve during the war. This town's proportion was twenty- 
eight. A meeting was called, and a hard money tax of fifteen hundred 
pounds was voted to pay for the same. At an adjourned meeting, the 
captains of the companies of militia were made a committee to procure the 
twenty-eight soldiers required of the town ; and Judge Sargeant, Isaac 
Eeddington, Captain Timothy Eaton, Samuel Ayer, Jr., and Captain 
Joseph Eaton, were added to the committee, " to devise ways & means to 
pay the soldiers." It was then 

" Voted, That the Town Treasury be open to those Committees, & that 
the Town Treasurer be ordered to pay them ivhat Money they may call on 
him for, they being accountable for the Expenditure of said Money." 

Subsequently, the town adopted the "Class" plan, recommended by the 
General Court, in raising the men. By this plan, the inhabitants of each 
town were divided into as many equal portions or classes as there were 
men to be raised, and each class was obliged to furnish one man. 

Erom the official returns of the several towns, we find that the twenty- 
eight men were duly raised, and " marched." 

Besides men, and money, and beef, the town was also called upon to fur- 
nish clothing for the army. In January, 1780, they forwarded thirty-one 
blankets; and in April, they were assessed for fifty-eight pairs of shoes, 
stockings, and shirts, and twenty-nine blankets. By the returns we find 
that the whole were sent previous to November 11th. 

This was but a small part of the clothing furnished in December and 
January. Erom the returns of Jonathan Ayer, constable, we give the 
names of the persons of whom he collected in December : — 

" Phillip Haseltine, 3 blankets ; Joseph Emerson, 2 do ; Joshua Emery, 
1 do ; Capt Timothy Eatton 1 do ; Ebenezer Baley 1 do ; John Smith Jr 

1 do ; Lieut Baley, 4 shurts ; Ebenr Baley 2 do ; Amos Baley 2 do, and 

2 pr stockins ; Wid Lydia Haseltine, 3 shurts, & 4 pr stockins ; Moses 
Haseltine 3 shurts ; Lieut Jona Webster 4 do ; Wid Euth Haseltine 2 do ; 
John Kezcr 4 do ; Moses Swaze 2 do, & 7 pr shoes ; James Webster 1 pr 
stockins ; Lieut David Bradley 24 pr Shoes; John Marble 10 yards cloth." 

c One of thpse was Daniel Bradley. Bradley was pre&ent, and on guard duty, when Major Andre was 
brought into camp a prisoner. He was the first butcher who rcQ^^ilarly attended Haverliill market. He 
died September 20th, IS J-1, in the 9-ith year of his age. Among the soldiers hired by the town this year, 
were Samuel Campbell and John Cox, who, it appears, were " taken up for stealing," and tried before Sam- 
uel White, Esq., and the town paid the costs in their cases, on condition that they enlisted I 

63 



418 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



Among the old papers of the town, we found the original subscription 
book of the person employed by the town to collect clothing at diiFerent 
times ; and believing that the list of names will be read with interest, we 
copy them" : — 



Names 




1 


•f 3 




Ul 


ca 


CO 


"VVidEutk-Sjmders... 


2 


, 


3 


Samuel Bradbury .... 


2 




1 


Amos Eaton 


4 




2 


Ebenezer Webster. . . . 


6 






Micha Emerson 


1 






Euth Emerson 


1 






John Emerson 


1 






Peter Emerson 


2 






Joseph Emerson 


8 






Jeremiah Emerson .... 


5 






John Page 


5 




2 


Joshue Emery 


2 






Wid Abigal Webster. 


2 






Richerd Kimball 


2 




Abigail Marsh 






2 


peter Johnson 






2 


•Tohn Ealcv 


2' 




Elias Johnson 


4| 




Seth Johnson 


6! • 


1 


James pike 


31 


5 


Ephreum Robinson . . . 


2 


1 


Ebcnzer Bayley 


2 


1 


A Tnn^ T?nlpv. ........ 


2 


1 


Pichard Baley 






3 


Jeremiah Baley 


1 




1 


Samuel ]Merrill 


2 




William Ladd 


3 


1 




Bcnjen Baley 


1 






John Emerson Jun . . . 




i 




Ammi Haynes 


1 




1 


Anthony Chase 






1 


James Chase 


2 




1 


William Bradley 


2 




2 



Names 



John Swd Corles 1 

Capt Joseph Eaton. . . 10 

Nathl Clarck 2 

Benja Ordway. . . . 

Capt Timothy Johnson 2 

Widow Heseltine 9 

Jacob Ela 

Capt Daniel hills. . . . 

John Downer 

Moses Swesey 

Josiah Emerson 

Jeremiah Heseltine. . 
Jonathan Bradley . . . 

Davide Bradley 

Samuel Ayer. ...... 

Isaac Snow 

Mary Bradley 

Joseph Greelay 

Folensbee Noise 

: John Sd George 

the Town 

Lieut Stephen Webster 

Widow Dusten 

lAron Carlton 

iLieut David Bradley 

'Jonathan Baker , 

Benja Baker 

I Mary Bradley 

Davide Marsh 

William Bradley ... 
Nehemiah Emerson. 
Joel Hereman 



30 



10 

5 

6 



10 
9 



* We copy tbe names as we find them — in groups. Each of these groups, or lists, seems to have beea 
» separate subscription. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 



419 



Mens Names 


U4 

to 


DQ 




Persons Names 


3 




William Greenleaf. . .. 
Lef Stephen Webster. 

Seth Johnson 

Elias Johnson . * . . . • 


1 

2 
6 
4 


2 


I pr 

5 


8 

8 


1 pr 

2 
1 
9 

2 

1 
1 


Mr Ennuck Mash 

Phineas Carleton 

Abarm Sweet, 

Daniel Hill 


1 

2 


G 
6 
1 
5 
4 

1 
1 


1 


Ben Ordway 


James Bricket Esq . . . 
John Cogwell Jur. . . . 

Aaron Caltou 

James Heseltine 

Dea Thomas Webster . 

John Smith Jun 

WillEdards. 


8 


Sam White Esq 

Maverick Johnson. . . . 
Ebenr Ga^e ......... 


2 
1 


Abel Page 


1 


John Williams 

Jkir David Mash, 


1 



■it 


East parish things delivered "• 








Names | 


■a 

J3 
02 


5 


Names 


3 

02 


1 


IS 


Dea Ezra Chase 

James Pike 


5 

2 
2 
9 

2 
2 
2 

2 

1 
2 
1 
2 
1 
1 


3 

1 

7 

1 
1 


1 
1 
1 

2 

2 

2 

1 
1 
1 
1 
10 

2 
2 
1 
1 

2 
1 
1 


Perley Ayers 

Daved Webster 

William Ladd.. 

Capt Timothy Eaton . . 
Mr Joshua Emory .... 

James Chase 

Amos Page 


2 
1 

3 
2 
2 
6 

5 
2 

8 

2 
1 

2 
4 


1 
1 

1 
2 

1 



1 

5 
2 
2 

4 

1 

1 
4 


1 


Antony Chase 

Euben Currier 

Job Tyler . . . ., 


2 


Amos George 

Ephraim Ellet 

Daniel Appleton. .... 

John Hastings 

Amos Bayley 

Enouck Heriman 

Jerimiah Heselton. . . . 




Capt Joseph Eaton . . . 

Ithamer Bradley 

Jeremiah Emerson .... 

Joseph Emerson 

Dudly Tyler 


2 

1 


Luas Bayley 

Ephrim Eobison 

Ebenr Bayley 

W alker Smith 


Thomas West 

John Sawyer 

James Webster 

Isaac Snow 




9 


John Ealey 


Jona Baker 




Peter Emerson 

Ebenr Mitchel 

John Swd Corles 


Benjamin Baker. ..... 

Nathan Ayer 

John Patty 




John Mitchel 


Moses Ayer 


1 


Eieut Croel 


Obidiah Ayer 

Sam Walker 


2 


Moses Webster Jun . . . 


1 


Jeremi Baley 

€apt Sam Merril 

•Jonn Emerson Jun. . . . 


Joal Herimn, 

Jacob Eala 


2 

2 


John Eala. 


2 



420" 



HISTORY OF nAvimHrLt., 
" October ye 4th, 1779 "'» 



Names 



m 




, 














a 




o a 


J3 


^ 




ou 


OQ 


i V. 



Names 



Amos Eaton 

Elias Jolinson . • - 
Setli Jolmson. . • . 
Peter Jolmson . . . 
Capt Timothy Johnson 

John Davis 

Hannah Hunhins. . . 
Samuel Sarnders. . . . 

Elias Sergent 

Joseph Greeley 

Jacob Elec 

Wid Kuth Sarnders . , 

Samuel Page 

Capt Daniel Johnson 
Abigal Sai-nders .... 
Ephraim Eobeson. . . 

. Euth Sheperd 

Joel Herriman 

Jerh Haseltine 







2 


8 


5 


2 


6 




1 


2 




1 


6 


6 


8 


2 




1 


2 






2 




2 


2 






4 


1 


1 


6 


9 


4 


2 






4 




1 

2 


4 




2 
4 
3 


3 


19 


6 



Lues Baley 

Ebenr Baley 

'Amas Baley 

David marsh 

Wm Bradlay 

Gen Brickit , 

[Lieut Bartlet 

jNem Emerson 

;A\'id Lydia Haseltine. 
Saml Haseltine ...... 

Jona Webster , 

lEuth Haseltine 

John Kezar 

Enoch Marsh 

Moses Swazey 

Lt David Bradley . 

Aaron Cai'lton 

Eicherd Haseltine . . . 
James "Webster 



13 

7 
24 



The expenses of the town in the year 1780, were indeed enormous, as 
may be seen by their tax for that year : — 

First Parish, Town Tax £185.15.12 State Tax £119.50.5 
West " " " 198.09.6 " ♦' 127.94.9 

East " " " 139.24.2 " " 89.89.18 

North " " " 84.43.19 " " 54.49.5 

The total State tax of the town was £18040.0.0, and its County tax 
was £224.1.0. The reader will of course remember that these amounts 
are reckoned in the continental currency, which was at a large discount at 
this time. But, notwithstanding this, the amount was still very large, and 
the inhabitants were compelled to make extraordinary exertions, and heavy 
sacrifices to raise the money. The town treasurer was paid for over nine 
days time in hiring money in the month of October alone. 

The Committee of Correspondence and Safety for this year, were : — 
General Brickett, Captain Samuel Merrill, James Pike, William Johnson, 
John Sawyer, Captain Timothy Eaton, and John Ela. 

In addition to the matters already noticed, the town was again called 
upon to consider the subject of a new Constitution for the State. The 

o This being the date affixed to the last list of names in the book, would seem to prove all the others of 
an earlier dale. A receipt in the book, dated May 5, 1778, makes it almost certain that such was the fact 



HlSTORr OP HAVERHILL. 421 

convention called for that parpose, in September, 1779, appointed a com- 
mittee to prepare a draft, and then adjourned to the next January, when 
they again met and agreed upon a Constitution. This was published and 
sent to the towns for their approval, or rejection. 

May 2d, a meeting of this town was called, to see if they would "ap- 
prove of the Form of Government for the State of Massachusetts Bay, as 
agreed upon by their Delegates in a Convention lately held at Cambridge." 
General James Brickett was chosen Moderator, who " publicly read the 
new form of Government as published by the Convention ; and also num- 
bered the voters in the meeting, and declared them to be one hundred and 
nineteen." 

The votes were taken upon each article separately. Articles I. and II. 
in the Bill of Eights were unanimously agreed to ; but the third " was a 
subject of considerable debate," and the meeting finally adjourned to the 
next Monday, without taking a vote upon it.='' 

At the adjourned meeting, May 8, there were one hundred and seventy- 
five voters present. The debate upon Article III. was resumed, and 
continued for some time, when it was voted to pass over the Article for 
one hour. Articles IV to XX, inclusive, were unanimously agreed to, 
(except Article X, which passed one hundred and four to twenty-six) when 
the meeting again took up the third Article. 

<* The following is the Article alluded to : — • 

Akt. III. As the happiness of a people, and the good order and preservation of civil government, 
essentially depend upon piety, religion and morality ; and as these cannot be generally diffused through a 
community, but by the institution of the public worship of GOD, and of public instructions in piety, reli- 
gion and morality ; therefore, to promote their happiness, and to secure the good order and preservation 
of their government, the people of this Commonwealth have a right to invest their legislature with power 
to authorize and require, and the legislature shall, from time to time, authorize and require, the several 
towns, parishe-, precincts, and other bodies politic, or religious societies, to make suitable provision, at 
their own expense, for the institution of the public worship of GOD, and for the support and maintenance 
of public Protestant teachers of piety, religion and morality, in all cases where such provision shall not be 
made voluntarily. 

And the pcple of this Commonwealth have also a right to, and do, invest their legislature with author- 
ity to enjoin upon all the subjects an attendance upon the instructions of the public teachers aforesaid, at 
stated times and seasons, if there be any on whose instructions they can conscientiously and conveniently 
attend. 

Provided, notwithstanding, that the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies politic, or reli- 
gious societies, shall, at all times, have the exclusive right of electing their public teachers, and of con- 
tracting with them for their support and maintenance. 

And all moneys paid by the sul>ject to the support of public worship, and of the public teachers afore- 
said, shall, if he require it, be uniformly applied to the support of the public teacher or teachers of his own 
religious sect or denomination, provided there be any on whose instructions he attends ; otherwise it may 
be paid towards the support of the teacher or teachers of the parish or precinct in which the said moneys 
are raised. 

And every denomination of Christians, demeaning themselves peaceably, and as good subjects of the 
Commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of any one sect 
or denomination to another shall ever be established by law. 



422 HISTORY OB' HAVERHILL. 

The Recorder informs us that this " was a subject of much Altercation^ 
and considerable Time was spent in arguing upon it The following vote 
was passed, viz: 91 voted to have it stand as it was published by the 
Convention ; & 85 voted for an Amendment. This last Vote was recon- 
sidered by a Majority of 64, & on a second Tryal there were but 40 for 
the Article, «& 104 against it. A Division then took place in this last 
Number, concerning the alteration & Amendment. Two Plans were pro- 
posed ; one by the Honble Nat. P Sargeant Esqr ; & the other by the 
Eevd Mr Hezekiah Smith. A vote was tried on each of their Amendments ; 
& there were 79 in favor of the former, & Q6 for the latter." 

At this stage of the proceedings, the meeting was adjourned until the 
next day, in order, doubtless, that some compromise or plan might be pre- 
sented that Would secure a majority vote. 

At the next meeting sixty-six voters were present. Commencing at 
Article 21, the remaining portion of the Bill of Eights was unanimously 
agreed to, — except Article 28th, which had one negative, and the 29th, 
on which the vote was a tie. * 

The moderator then proceeded to lay before the town " the Frame of 
Government," which wasagi-eed to almost unanimously (except Article 2d, 
Chapter 1st, on which the vote was a tie) as far as Article 14th of Chap- 
ter 2d, when the meeting adjourned to the 22d inst. 

At the adjourned meeting the remaining portions of the Constitution 
were agreed to, (the most of the sections unanimously) except Chapter 
6th, which was amended by adding the word " Protestant " to the word 
" Christian." 

General Brickett was chosen a delegate to the next Convention ; and 
the next Thursday (25th inst.) was fixed upon as the time to resume the 
consideration of the third Article in the Bill of Eights. 

At the adjournment, the first vote passed was, " to re-consider all that haa 
been acted on, i-cspecting the 3d Article in the Bill of Eights." It being 
then moved to ascertain by a vote how many were in favor of the Article, 
it appeared that 85 were in favor, and 69 against it. The Eev. Mr. Smith 
then offered an amendment,-' which was agreed to; and the following vote 
was passed : — 

" Tho' the Town have tho't fit to propose to the Convention some Alter- 
ations and Amendments in some of the Articles in the Form of Govern- 
ment they have made for the Common "Wealth of Massachusetts, are, 
notwithstanding of Opinion, & do consent, that the Whole of said Form, 

• What his amendment was, the record does not inform ua. 



HISTOKY OF HAVERHIIi. 423 

as published "by the Convention, Ibe established, rather than the same 
should be returned to the People for farther Eevision ; which -will prevent 
its taking place, & being established so soon as we wish to have it." 

This town was not alone in objections to the Third Article of the 
Constitution. Objections were made in all quarters, and the subject was 
thoroughly discussed, both in public and private. Says Bradford, " The 
Baptists were the most inclined to complain, for the teachers of Keligion 
were generally of the Congregational order." They considered it oppressive, 
and inconsistent with their rights, that those who had belonged to other 
Churches, and were desirous of joining a Baptist Church, should be sub- 
jected to the inconvenience of applying for license so to do. 

The Constitution having been agreed to by a large majority of the towns 
in the Commonwealth, Monday, the fourth day of September was assigned 
for the election, by the people, of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Coun- 
cillors, and Senators, under the new Constitution. This being our first 
electfon under a State Constitution, and the inauguration of a new era in 
our local government, the following extracts from our town records of that 
date are of more than ordinary interest : — •■= 

" The Select Menf presided at this Meeting, who, with the Town Clerk, 
received the Votes, sorted, and numbered them. The Votes for Governor 
were, Forty Seven for the Hon'ble John Hancock Esq ; and Forty one for 
the Hon'ble James Bowdoin Esq. For a Lieut Governor, the Votes were, 
Twenty six for the Hon. Jno Hancock Esq ; Twenty two for the Hon 
Thomas Gushing ; Ten for the Hon James Bowdoin Esq ; & Two for 
Tristram Dalton Esq." Sixteen persons received votes for " Councillor 
Senators." 

Although hostilities had been for some time transferred to a distance 
from the State, yet Massachusetts was by no means relieved from frequent 
and heavy requisitions for men and materials to carry on the war. In Decem- 
ber, 1780, the General Court called on the towns for a fresh supply of 
beef for the army. The amount assessed on this town was thirty-two 
thousand, two hundred and fifty-six pounds ! Large as was the quantity, the 
town promptly voted to raise it, and laid a tax of £48,384 to pay for it. 
Hardly had the town time to collect and forward their quota of beef, when 
(June 22, 1781) they were called on for thirteen thousand, three hundred 
and fourteen pounds more ! At the same time they were assessed for 

c- The warrants for the town meetings at this time run as follows : — "These are to notify and warn 
the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Haverhill, of 21 years old & upwards, having a Free- 
hold Estate within this State of the annual Income of Three Pounds, or any estate to the value of Sixty 
Pounds sterling, to meet," &c. 

t Previous to this time, the meetings were invariably presided over by a Moderator. 



424 HISTORY or haterhill. 

i5fty-six sTiirts ; tlie same numlber of pairs of shoes and etockings ; and 
twentj-eiglit blankets. These -were all raised and forwarded before the 
middle of November. 

July 3d, the town was called on for four men for the Rhode Island 
service, and they were raised. In their warrant for the meeting to attend 
to the above, the selectmen say " and as there is a Necessity of their 
being marched immediately, it is hoped the good Inhabitants of this town 
will generally attend, and use their utmost endeavors in procuring said 
men."-' 

The effective aid of the French, in men and money, in 1781, threw a 
bright glow over our military and financial operations, and helped to crown 
our arms with brilliant success, both on sea and land. Early in 1782, the 
English government, wearied with the fruitless and desperate seven years 
struggle, and hopeless of success, began to think seriously of overtures of 
peace. The preliminary motion was made in Parliament Februar}' 27th, 
and five days later it passed. The preliminary articles were signed at 
Paris in the following November, and in September, 1783, the treaty was 
signed at the same place. 

Thus the war of the revolution was happily ended. The Colonies were 
wrested from the grasp of England, and American Independence was 
acknowledged and established. It was indeed " glad tidings " to Ameri- 
ca that peace was declared. Every countenance was radiant with smiles ; 
and the proclamation, when read, was hailed with tumultuous cheers. 
Bells were rung ; cannon fired ; bonfires lighted ; and, in the evening, 
houses were brilliantly illuminated. All were inspired with new life, and, 
looking to Heaven with grateful emotions, poured out their offerings of 
gratitude to God ! 

In looking back over the long and severe struggle, and considering how 
heavy was the burden upon the towns, especially of Massachusetts, it is 
with no small degree of pride that we find upon the official record the fact, 
that, upon the final settlement, Haverhill was deficient one man only, in 
all the drafts that had been made upon it ! We can, without exaggeration, 

o In Captain Nchcmiah Emerson's company, in the 10th Massachusetts Regiment, in 1781-2 were the 
followins from Ilavcrlii II : — 

Thomas Page, enlisted March 18, 1781, for 3 years 

Parker Page, " " 19, " " 

Nathaniel Clark, " '• 1-1, " " 

Thomas Page and Nathaniel Clark were only about fifteen years old when they enlisted. They were 
taken into his company by Captain Emerson, at their own urgent solicitation, and with the consent of 
their parents, as his musicians, Page being drummer and Clark fifcr. It is said that their youthful ap- 
pearance and skilful execuiion attracted the attention of Washington, who enquired of their Captam in 
regard to them, and drew from him the compliment (of which they were ever after proud) " they are 
vrtlly hoys." They remained with Captain Emerson until the close of the war. 



HTStOEY Ot HAVEKHILl. 42§ 

say that " there were but few towns, if any, which made greater exertions 
to forward the cause of freedom than this ; no effort was spared ; no sac- 
rifice was thought too great. The courage of the inhabitants never flagged, 
■even at the darkest period; * they had nailed the flag to the mast,' to use 
the expression of a veteran of that period, ' and they determined to see ib 
wave in the winds of freedom, or fall nobly fighting.' They were willing 
to spend their treasures and shed their blood ; and when there was scarcely 
room to hope, the votes which were passed in their town-meetings, show a 
spirit of coolness, determination and patriotism which is truly astonish- 
ing ; — they evinced a chivalry far nobler than that of olden time ; they 
were actuated by a principle from which death only could separate 
iihem."" 

« Mirick. 



426 HI3T0RT OT HlVEEHItt*' 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



1765 TO 1790. 



During tbc period covered by tlie preceding chapter, the inhabitants of' 
this town ■were so completely absorbed in the great work of American 
Liberty, that but little time or attention was given, or indeed could have 
been given, to anything else. "We find, therefore, but few tilings to note 
during this time, except those relating to the great struggle, and which we 
have already considered in the above chapter. But these few matters will 
now find place, before we take up the history of the town under the broad 
and peaceful banner of American Independence and American Union. 

The items of the valuation of the town, as taken in 17G7, seem so well- 
worth an insertion in this place, that we copy the return in full : — 
*' Valuation of Haverhill, 1767. 

478 Polls ratable, 27 Polls nOt ratable. 
281 Dwelling Houses at £o each, £1405' 

44 Work Houses 403 each 88 

2 Distill Houses £23 each 46 

3 Warehouses SOs ,, . ,12 
3320 superficial feet wharf a SOs per 1000 feet 4.19.5- 

19 Mills £6 each 114 

10 Servts for life a 40s each 20 

£4768.13.2 Trading Stock a 6 pr ct 268.2.4 

242 Tuns of Shiping a 3 pr tun 36.6 

£3855.12.2 Money at Int a 6 p ct 231.6.8| 

186 Horses a 4s 9d 44.3.6 

252 Oxen a 4s 50.8 

716 Cows a 3s 6d 107.8 

1315 Sheep &c a 3d- 16.8.& 

59 Swine a 12d 2.19 

1040 Cow Pastures a 1 2s 624 

13765 bushels Grain a 8d 458.16.8 

2736 barrels Cyder a 3s 410.8 

916i Tuns English Hay a 12s 549.18 

945 " Meadow Hay a 6s 283.10 

£4791.13.41 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILI.. 427 

We presume no grumbling tax-payer will claim that this valuation was 
too high, as five pounds each for dwelling-houses, and forty shillings for a 
•"servant," certainly seems low enough. In comparing this list, therefore, 
with those of a later date, this extremely low valuation should be taken 
into the account. 

It will be noticed that this valuation list gives fifteen less slaves, than 
the census of 1764:, only three years previous. May not the difference be 
accounted for by supposing that the other fifteen were either too young or 
too old to be of any value, as " property ? " 

In 1767, the first powder-house was erected. It was eight feet square, 
but where it was located we are unable to say. 

February 23d, 1763, a Firs Olab was organized in this town, and fire- 
wardens were chosen. The latter were Cornelius Mansise, Enoch Bartlett, 
Samuel White, Esq., and Isaac Osgood. 

The object of the Club, was, to assist in extinguishing fires, and " in 
saving and taking the utmost care of each other's Goods " upon such oc- 
casions. The number of members was originally limited to twenty-five, 
each of whom was to provide " two good Bags, of one yard and three 
quarters in length and three quarters of a yard in breadth, with strings at 
the mouth ; and two good leather Buckets, " =■' =■■* =- and keep them 
hanging in a convenient place," ready for an emergency. The officers were 
a Moderator, who was chosen at each meeting, and a Clerk, who was 
chosen annually. Xew members were only admitted by unanimous con- 
sent. The penalty for non-attendance at a fire, was fifty cents. The 
members had a watch-word, changed at the pleasure of the society, which 
they were forbidden to divulge, uader a penalty of thirtj^-four cents for 
each offence. The number of original members was eighteen, and included 
the most prominent and respectable citizens in the village. 

Subsequently the Club (or Society) furnished themselves with a number 
of ladders, which were kept in different parts of the town, ready for emer- 
gencies ; and added a new feature to their Constitution, the design of 
which was to protect each other from loss of goods by theft. Their arti- 
cles provided that half the members should draw tickets at the quarterly 
meetings, upon which should be inscribed the different roads to be pursued 
in case of theft ; that those who drew tickets, upon the first information 
of theft upon the property of any member, should repair to the place 
where the theft was committed, or to his usual place of abode, and pursue 
the roads they had drawn, unless the committee of advice should prescribe 
different routes ; and it was made their duty to use the utmost exertion to 
apprehend the thieves and recover the stolen property. All extra expenses 



428 



HISTORY OP HATERHrLE. 



TVtre paid by the Club. This plan of operations was not only the means 
of recovering much stolen i)ropcrty, but the knowledge of its existence, 
and of the energy and perseverance with which all its doings were char- 
acterized, without doubt proved of still greater value by its preventative 
influence upon the evil disposed. 

The Club further extended their sphere of usefulness, by providing 
gi'apples for the recovery of bodies in case of drowning, and which were 
kept in constant readiness for emergencies. 

For a long series of years, the annual supper of the Fire Club was one 
of the great social occasions of the }' ear, and though the active duties of the 
Club have long since been transferred to the Fire Department of our town, 
the annual supper is still duly prepared and enjoyed by the surviving 
members of the Club, and its anniversary bids fair to be held in remem- 
brance these many years to come. 

The following is a list of the members of the Society, from its organiza- 
tion, in 17G8, to 1822, with the date of admission of each member : — 

" List of Menibers of the Fire Society." 
Kich'd Saltonstall, Esq-Feb »2 1768. Nathaniel 3Iarsh, 



James M'Hard, Esq. 

Enoch Bartlett, 

John "White, jun, 

Nath. Peaslee Sargeant, 

James Duncan, 

Nathaniel Walker, 

Major Edmund Mooers, 

John CogsAvell, jun. 

Isaac Osgood, 

Jonathan Buck, 

James Brickett, 

Benjamin Mooers, 

Jonathan Webster, jun. 

AVilliam Greenleaf, 

Cornelius Mansise, 

John Mulliken, 

David Marsh, jun. 

Isaac Bedington, 

Samuel Apple ton, March 17 

Cutting j\larsh, 

Jacob Ayer, January, 17 

Captain John WTiite, " 

Israel Bartlett, January, 17 

Moses Dow, " 

Dr. Nathaniel Saltonstall " 

James M'Hard, " 



October, 1774 
Phineas Carlcton, January, 17-75 
^Daniel D. Eogers, " " 

Joseph Dodge, " " 

Thomas Cogswell, " *" 

Samuel Souther, " " 

Bailey Bartlett, April, 1776 

Nathaniel Sparhawk, Nov., 1777 
Capt. Joseph Cordis, " " 

Moses Parsons, April, 177D 

Thomas Stickney, " " 

John White, jun. " 1780 

Moses Fessenden, " " 

Capt. Benjamin Willis, " " 
Joseph Harrod, " " 

James Duncan, jun. January, 1781 
Daniel Appletou, " " 

Capt. Simon Mansise, " " 



Timothy Osgood, 

68 John Wingate, 
John Sawyer, 

69 Jonathan Payson, 
Samuel White, jun. 

73 Moses Gale, 
James Walker, 
Ebeuezer Gage, 
Samuel Walker, 



April " 
January, 1782 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



429 



Rer. Hezekiah Smith, January, 1784 Leverett Saltonstall, Octoher, 
Dean Tyler, " " Justin Kent, " 

Calel) Stark, October, " John Huse, " 

Ebenezcr Greenough, " *' Eichard Kimball, " 

Edward "Woodbury, " " Ecv. ^Villiam Bachelder, Jan. 



1£06 



January, 1785 John Varniam, April, " 

July, " Samuel Bartlett, October, " 

jun. Oct. " Benjamin Clap, " " 

January, 1786 James Bartlett, " " 1807 

" 1787 Charles White, April, 1S08 
October, 1788 John Marsh, 



Eev. Joshua Dodge, January, 1809 

April, " 



October, " 
January, 1810 
April, 1811 

July, " 
October, 1812 



John Thaxtcr, 
Samuel Blodget, 
"William Greenleaf, 
Benjamin Mooers, 
David How, 
Leonard "White, 

Nehemiah Emerson, January, 1789 
Henry West, October, " 

Daniel Brickett," 
Eev. John Shaw, " " 

Moses Marsh, jun. ' " 1790 

Jonathan B. Sargeant, " " 
William Cranch, January, 1792 
Moses Atwood, April, " 

John Johnson, July, " 

Abraham Swett, " " 

Henry Porter, April, 1794 

Cotton B. Brooks, " " 

Benjamin Willis, jun, " " 

Ichabod Tucker, January, 1795 
Eev. Abiel Abbot, July, " 

Ephraim Emery, April, 1796 

Oliver Putnam, October, 1798 

Caleb B. Le Bosquet, ^' " 
Daniel Swett, April, 1799 

Moses Morse, January, 1800 

EzekiH Hale, April, 1802 

Dudley Porter, jun. October, " 
Jabez Kimball, January, 1804 

Galen H. Eay, April, " 

]\Ioses Brickett, January, 1805 

Dudley Porter, sen. April, " 

The first Fire Engine in this town was purchased in 1769, by a com- 
pany formed for the purpose. In organizing the company, Cornelius 
Mausise was chosen Captain, or Chief Director, with fourteen assistants, 
including under officers. The company were to meet monthly. Those 
who neglected to attend the annual meeting, in May, one hour before 
sunset, to clean, fit, and exercise the engine, were to pay a fine of 8d to 
the Clark and treasurer. For absence at fires, the fine was 6s, and when 
a member wished to leave, he had to pay 3s. W^hen any one did not pay 
his fines, he was voted out of the company. 



Daniel Haddock, 

David Bryant, 

Nathaniel Hills, 

Peter Osgood, 

Jesse Harding, 

Moses Wingate, 

James How, 

David How, jun. 

James Atwood, " " 

David Marsh, 2d. January, 1813 

Samuel W. Duncan, April, " 

AVilliam Greenough, Janu;;ry, 1814 

Daniel Appleton, jun. " " 

William White, " " 

Phineas Carleton, " " 

John Atwood, '• '• 

James H. Emerson, 

Eufus Longley, 

Jonthan K. Smith, 

James H. Duncan, 

John Woodman, 

Isaac E. How, 

Eevd George Keeley, 

Nathan Webster, 

Stephen Minot, 



October, 


1815 


April, 


1816 


January, 


1816 


April, 


1816 


" 


1817 


Jan. 


1819 


Jan. 


" 


April, 


1822 



430 HISTORY OF nAVERHILL. 

The first election of officers was held May 16, 1769, wlien the following 
were chosen : — Cornelius Mansise, Captain ; David Eemick, James 
Soammon, John White, Thomas Cogswell, Enoch Marsh, Nath Marsh, 
Nath Walker Jr, David Bradley, Daniel Greenleaf, James Hcllard, Israel 
Bartlett, Bailey Bartlctt, Samuel Eamcs, Phineas GoirXQion, Assistants ; 
Nath Walker, Jr, Clark. The Clark was to " warne all sd company, 
when and ware to meet by a billet." 

August 1st, Wm. Lampson was chosen Lieutenant. September 19th, 
the company met for the first time at their new Engine House. 

The second year, David Eemick was chosen Lieutenant, and James 
McHard, Clark. Several of the members were fined for not appearing to 
exercise the engine, and it was voted that it should " be exercised at the 
sun one hour high for the futer, and the members be warned one day be- 
forehand, and any officer absenting himself shall pay 2s lawful money." 

March 19th, 1770, the company " took the engine out, worked her, and 
put her in again ; " and in the evening " met at Capt Bradley's for re- 
freshments, (ic." 

This engine was purchasted and kept in repair entirely by private sub- 
scriptions. The first mention we find of such a machine, in the town 
records, is in September, 1779, when a proposition was made 

" To see if the town will build a small Store house for Storing Publick 
Goods or Stores belonging to the Tov^n, together zoith the Engine.^^ The 
town voted not to act upon the article. 

In 1769, " salt works " were erected on Mill Brook, by one James Hud- 
son, and the town (September 21) voted him, as an encouragement, the 
sum of £13.6.8. But he soon found the business unprofitable, audit was 
abandoned. 

Among the town officers in 1771, we find, for the first time, " Weighers 
of Bread." Nathaniel Walker and William Greenleaf were chosen for 
that purpose. 

In 1773, a petition was presented to the town, and an article was there- 
upon inserted in the warrant for the annual meeting, " to see if the town 
will vote that the stream proceediug out of the Little pond''' be turned into 
his natural course from said pond to the West river. "f The proposition 
was negatived. 

o Round Puml. 

t LitlU. River. At Ihc nnnual meeting, in 17G8, James S:iwycr and Jolin Farnum were granted the 
privilege of fljwins the Great Pond, " to save water to grind at their mills," provided they secured the 
towu from damage, in consequence of such flowing. 



BISTORY OP HAVERHILL, 431 

A tornado which took place in this vicinity, on the 1st of August, 1773, 
is thus described in a publication of that period. 

" The tornado took its course from the east, first struck Salisbury pointy 
^d following the course of the Merrimack river, spread havoc before it 
for the space of a mile in width, extending to Haverhill. The devastation 
was almost beyond conception or description. Almost every house and 
building, from Salisbury point' to a quarter of a mile above Amesbury 
ferry, was levelled with the ground, uprooted, or otherwise damaged. A 
Capt. Smith, who belonged to Beverly; was sitting in a sail maker's loft, 
at Amesbury, when the storm commenced, and in a moment he and the 
whole building were carried away together, the building rent to pieces and 
dispersed. Capt. Smith was found lying senseless ninety four feet from 
the sill of the loft he was carried from ; one of his legs was broken, and 
he was otherwise bruised. A large white oak post, fourteen feet in 
length, and twelve by ten inches, was transported one hundred and thirty- 
eight feet. Two vessels of ninety tons, building in Amesbury, were lifted 
from the blocks, and carried sideways through the air, twenty-two feet. A 
large bundle of shingles was taken from the ground, and thrown three 
hundred and thirty feet, in an opposite direction to that of the post above 
mentioned, and at right angles to the course the vessels were carried. 
Large trees were torn up by the roots and cast into the river. Large oak 
planks were hurled, with the velocity of cannon balls, through the roofs 
of houses ; and, in fine, during the hurricane, which lasted a few minutes 
only, the air was filled with everything that could be moved, whirling with 
the most surprising rapidity through the air, and surrounding the affrighted 
inhabitants, some of whom were taken up by the winds, carried a consid- 
erable way, and let down safe : others were buried in their cellars, but 
were dug out without receiving any hurt. About one hundred and fifty 
buildings fell. 

" In Haverhill, the inhabitants fled in consternation from one large 
dwelling house, which was blown down, and thought to save themselves in a 
barn which was almost new, and filled with about thirty tons of hay ; but 
the barn was entirely blown to pieces, in another moment, and some parts 
of it carried to the distance of three miles. 

" This tempest was preceded by heavy rain and gross darkness ; and it 
appeared first on the Merrimack river, which was in the utmost tumult, 
rolling upon the banks, and threatening to swallow up the affrighted in- 
habitants." 



432 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

Mirick (who evidently mistakes in placing tlie date as the 13th, instead 
of the 1st of August,) thus describes the cflfccts of the tornado in this 
town : — 

" About 8 o'clock in the morning, a large black cloud arose in the South- 
west, charged with wind and rain. The wind came in a vein of only a 
few rods in breadth, and sweeping over Silver's Hill, struck the house of 
Mr. Bradley, now owned by Hon. Moses "\A'ingate. Mr. Bi*adley imme- 
diately ran to the door and attempted to hold it, while the family was 
thrown into the greatest confusion, running hither and thither, Q.mid the 
falling bricks, broken glass, and splinters of wood. The roof was instantly 
blown off, and a bundle of wool was taken from the garret and carried to 
Great Pond. Not a pane of glass was left in the house. The barn> 
which stood within a few rods of the house, was totally demolished, and a 
valuable horse which was then in it, escaped unharmed." 

The physical, as well as the political elements, seem to have been un- 
usually turbulent about these times. The year 1772 is set down as 
" uncommonly stormy," with much snow and wind in April, and a " great 
rain and freshet " in September. 

In September, 1773, the General Court passed an act " to prevent the 
destruction of Salmon in Merrimack Eiver ; " in which it was declared 
that no seines should be used which were more than sixteen rods long* 
They had previously been used, it appears, long enough to stretch quite 
across the river. 

The same fall, the town decided "to build a stone Pound in the comet 
of the parsonage pasture, neare Capt Eames." This was the old stone 
pound, which stood on the west side of Main Street, about midway be- 
tween White and Fourth Streets, and which was demolished not many 
years since. The house of A. B. Jaques, Esq., stands upon the original 
site of the pound. 

At the annual meeting, in 1774, it was proposed to see " whether the 
Town will vote Mr Hezekiah Smith residing in said town his proportion of 
Eents," &c., of the parsonage lands, "according to the number of his 
hearers belonging to Haverhill." The town refused to make such a divi*- 
sion, and also to choose a committee to examine the records of the 
Baptists.'- 

At the same meeting, a proposition was made, and agreed to, that two 
schools should be kept the year to come, " the one a Grammar School, and 
the other an English School." Though the record does not so state, yet 

. * The same propositiou was renewed in 1780, but " passed over." 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 433 

vr« presume tHe vote referred fo the First Parish only ; as grammar schools 
•were already kept in the several parishes. 

This year the town voted to choose a board of Overseers of the Poor, 
but after choosing them, re-considered their action, and decided not to 
have any. In 1776, the same thing was again done, and it was finally 
decided to add two more to the Board of Selectmen, — which was done. 
In 1781, the number was again reduced to three. 

In 1774, John Eaton, after faithfully serving as town clerk and treas- 
urer for the long period of fifty-seven years, retired from office, and John 
Whittier was elected in his place. " Glarh Eaton " lived in the house 
now owned and occupied by Joseph B. Spiller, just below the " button- 
woods." That he was well fitted for the responsible post, and commanded 
the respect and confidence of his fellow- townsmen, is abundantly demon- 
strated by his fifty-six annual re-elections to the office. Whittier having 
declined a re-election in 1778, Eaton was again chosen to the office, but 
refused to serve. He was then considerably past four-score years of age ! 

Among the names of the original grantees of the township of Eumford, 
Me., February, 177-1, (upon petition of Timothy Walker, Jr., of Concord, 
N. H., and associates,) we find the following from this town: — 
Benjamin Grale, James McHard, Phinehas Kimball," 

Nathaniel Marsh, Anna Stevens, Eobert Davis, 

Cutting Marsh Henry Lovejoy, 

The whole number of grantees was sixty-nine. 

In 1777, the small pox again visited this vicinity, and caused great 
alarm. A town meeting was called, April 8th, to see if the town would 
erect an " Innoculating Hospital." The town not only refused to erect 
such a hospital, but also refused to let it be done at individual cost, con- 
tenting itself with choosing a committee to act with the selectmen in 
preventing the spread of the disease. From the record of a meeting. May 
21, we find that although the town had so decidedly objected to a hospital, 
one was then actually in course of erection ; and a proposition was made 
that the selectmen might be authorized to permit persons to be inoculated 
in it — but it was refused. 

The next year, however, it was found that some such measures were 
necessary, and in June it was voted to " give leave and admit of Innocu- 
lation in the town," and the selectmen were to appoint the time and place 
for that purpose. But before July was past, the vote was " revoked," and 
two months later, (September 21) it was " voted to prosecute those per- 
sons that have taken the small pox by innoculation in this town, or any 
that shall take it in future, without consent of the town first obtained." 
55 



434 nisTOKT ov haverhili. 

Three weeks later, it -was " voted to allow the inhabitants of the town to* 
be innoculatccl at the Hospital, or houses near it " A committee of scA^en 
was chosen to hare the charge of the hospital, and several regulations were 
adopted for their government.- Were it not for the extravagancies of 
even quite recent times, we should, perhaps, smile at this vascilating 
course. But when we reflect that, although the loathsome disease is now 
shorn of its principal terrors, yet its appearance in our communities is the 
signal for all sorts of wild fancies and fears, the smile assumes a doubtful 
significance. 

The winter of 1780 was one of remarkable severity. For forty days,' 
thirty one of which were the month of March, there was no perceptible 
thaw on the southerly side of any house. The snow was so deep and hard 
that loaded teams passed over walls and fences in every direction. Says 
Hon. Bailey Bartlctt, in his journal: — 

" Snow so deep and drifted that in breaking a path on the Common, we 
made an arch through a bank of snow, and rode under the arch on horse- 
back." 

The same year is rendered memorable for its " dark day," which occur- 
red oi\the 19th of May. For a week or more, the air had been very thick 
and heavy ; and, on the morning of the above-named day, very black clouds 
were seen to lise suddenly and fast from the west, and soon covered all 
New England with almost total darkness. It was darkest from nine 
o'clock A. M., to half-past three, P. M. About twelve, M., fowls went to 
roost, frogs peeped, cattle went to their barns, and night-birds appeared. 
About midnight, a breeze sprung up from the north-west, and the dark- 
ness gradually disappeared. It was attributed to a thick smoke, which 
had been accumulating for several days, occasioned by extensive fires in 
northern New Hampshire, where the people were making many new set- 
tlements. 

If the office of constable was not a desirable one previous to the war, 
it must have been much less so when the people were so heavily burthened 
with taxes, as they were about this time. We need not therefore be sur- 
prised to find that it was found necessary to order the town treasurer to 
prosecute those refusing to serve when chosen to the office. 

The depreciation of the paper currency had become so great, that, in 
1781, the town decided not to receive any more for taxes. In September 
of that year, the town had £10,121.4.4 of it in the treasury. Exchange 
was then seventy-Jive to one ! This gives to the list of prices of that time 

" From the Town Records of 1782, we find the disease was still in the town, and the "Pest House" i» 
active operation. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 435 

a really formidable appearance. Shoes were £20 per pair; milk 15s per 
quart ; plauk 27s per foot ; wood £35 per cord ; board £60 ,per week ; 
sugar o4s per pound ; meal 78s, and potatoes 9Gs per busbel ; rum 45s 
per pint; molasses 22s per pint; coffee, 96s, butter 60s, candles 60s, pork 
GOs, veal 2-ls, tobacco o6s, and ginger 60s per pound; and everything else 
in proportion. AVe copy the following as an additional illustration : — 
"1781. April 16, the town of Haverhill to Nathaniel Bradley 



to one mug of flip 


3.12.0 


to my horse to danvers 


24. 0.0 


to 3 messes of oats 


• 5. 8.0 


to ferrage 


1.16.0 


to one dinner supper & Breakfast 


18. 0.0 


to one nights Lodging 


1.16.0 


to 4 mugs of flip 


14. 8.0 


to 3 half-mugs for my self 


5. 8.0 



£74.8.0 
Errors Excepted 

Nathaniel Bradley."-' 

In 1782, the town's. proportion of the State tax was £2,026.4.0, and of 
the tax laid by Congress, for the war, £1,347.18.04 ! No wonder that 
men shrunk from the unpleasant duties of town ofiices. At the annual T 
meeting that year, Joseph Dodge, Captain Nathaniel Marsh, and Phineas I ' 
Carleton, were successively chosen town clerk and treasurer, the first two v 
refusing to serve ; and Deacon Moses Clements refused to serve as select- 
man. Four town meetings were held before a constable for the East 
Parish was finally secured ! Phineas Nichols and Ecuben Currier were 
chosen, refused to serve, and were fined £5 each ; and it was only by 
voting him their fines as a premium, that Edmund. Brown was induced to 
accept the office ! 

In 1783, the town voted to instruct their Representative to join the 
Piepresentatives of Newbury and other towns in the county, to memorialize 
the General Court in regard to " the iniequal distribution of the Courts in 
the County," and at a subsequent meeting it was voted to concur with 
Newbury and Almsbury in praying for the removal of all the courts and 
county offices to Ipswich. 



o Six years later, (1787), Rum was two shillings and sis pence per gallon; Shalloon, two shillings and 
sis pence per yard ; Sugar, nine pence per pound ; Chocolate, one shilling and four pence per pound ; Salt 
four shillings per bushel ; Coflee, one shilling and six pence per pound ; Brandy, five shillings per gallon ; 
Mutton, four pence per pound ; Floui', three pence per pound. 



436 HISTORY OF HATERHILL. 

In the early part of May of this year, the selectmen received a letter 
from the Committee of Correspondence, of Boston, in relation to the return 
of " refugees " to this country, and an article was inserted in the warrant 
for a meeting on the 14th of the same month, to sec if the town would 
take any action in the matter. At first, it was voted not to take any ac- 
tion, but " after some debate," it was 

" Besolved, That it is the sense of this Town that their Eepresentative 
be Instructed that whenever the affair respecting the return of Conspiri- 
tors or absentees, should be laid before the General Court, by proper 
authority, that he do use his Influence in said Coui-t to prevent the Eeturn 
of said persons, until the Keasons for the same be laid before his Consti- 
tuents, if not Inconsistent with the articles of peace agreed upon at Paris 
by the Powers of War, in Nov. 1782." 

Bailey Bartlett was chosen Eepresentative to the General Court, in 1784, 
but declined, and Samuel White was then elected. Bartlett had filled the 
place three years, and was the first one elected by the town under the 
Constitution. The town acknowledged his past services by a vote of thanks. 

At the same time liberty was granted " to the Fire Club to set an 
Engine House on the west side of the landing, adjoining land of Samuel 
White." 

On the 29th of June, of this year, John Sawyer, who had been partially 
insane for several years, leaped from the belfry of the First Parish meeting- 
house. Mr. Bradford, the bell-man, who had but one leg, was ascending 
to the bell, when Sawyer crowded past him, and, without warning of his 
design, leaped from the dizzy height. He intended to throw himself 
directly upon the whipping post and stocks, which stood a few feet from 
the north east end of the meeting-house, but over-shot the mark, and 
landed on the side-walk. The fall broke his back, and he survived but a 
few hours. 

The year 1785 was one of remarkable extremes of weather, &c. 
April 1st, the snow was three feet deep on a level, and so hard, that as late 
as the 15th it was used for skating, and still later, bore up cattle. On 
the 13th, the Merrimack was passable on the ice. In September and 
October there fell unusual quantities of rain. In the latter mouth there 
fell in three days nine inches, and the Merrimack was higher than in tlie 
great freshet of 1745. Kovember 25, there was a remarkable snow storm, 
the snow blowing into halls, one of which ran 7G feet, and measured 
17^ by 22 inches. December 18th, the frost was out of the ground, and 
the weather pleasant. One month later, was the "coldest night ever 
known in the climate." 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 437 

The novelty of the following, (which includes all the articles in the 
warrant for a town meeting November 14th, 1785) entitles it to a place in 
a history of the town : — 

" First, To see if it he the minds of the Town to have a bank of paper 
money Emitted if it may be done upon a Solid foundation. 

" Secondly, To chuse a committee to draw up Instructions for our 
present Deputy to forward the Matter that it may be done without delay." 

The scheme did not, however, appear to meet with the favor its friends 
expected. It was " voted not to act on the first article in the Warning," 
and the second was then passed over, as a matter of course. 

In March, 178G, the office of "Surveyor of Bread" was joined with 
another, called " Clerk of the Market." The latter was from this time 
regularly chosen annually, until quite recently. The Selectmen were at 
the same time ordered to regulate the size of all bread sold by the bakers 
in the town. 

This year is rendered memorable, by an insurrection in the western part 
of the State, headed by one Daniel Shays, and known as " Shays' 
Eebellion." The origin of these disturbances is to be found in the suffer- 
ings of the masses of the people under their grievous load of taxes. A few 
artful and unprincipled men, took advantage of their distresses, and pur- 
suaded them that they had a right to rid themselves of the restraints of 
law and government, which had so oppressed them. 

Early in August, delegates from about fifty towns assembled at Hatfield, 
" to consider and provide a remedy for the grievances they suffered," and 
though they professed to disapprove of mobs, their action so inflamed the 
minds of the ignorant, that three weeks after, a mob of fifteen hundred 
men, chiefly armed, assembled at Northampton, and prevented the sitting 
of the Coui-t of Common Pleas. The spirit of insurrection spread rapidly. 
The first of September, three hundred armed men took possession of the 
Court House at Worcester, and would not allow the Court to be opened. 
Soon after, a similar body assembled at Springfield, under the leadership 
of Captain Daniel Shays, but found the Court protected by six hundred of 
the militia, under General Shepard, and after threatening and alarming 
the people for four days, they dispersed. Similar disturbances occurred in 
Berkshire, Bristol, and Middlesex Counties, and the governor finally con- 
vened the General Court to consider the unhappy state of afi"airs. 

Previous to the last named act, the town of Boston held a meeting, and 
addressed a circular letter to every town in the State, "concerning the 
common interest of the country." On the receipt of the letter in this town, 
a meeting was at once called, and a committee chosen to draft a suitable 



438 HISTORY OF HAVBRniLL. 

reply. General Briclcctt was chairman. At an adjourned meeting the 
committee reported the following, which was read and adopted, and sent 
out as the deliberate conclusion of the town. The document breathes the 
purest and loftiest patriotism : — 

" Haverhill, the 10th of October, 1786. 
Friends and Fellow Citizens : — 

Your circular address of the 11th of September last, to the several towns 
of this Commonwealth, has been received, and laid before this town at a 
legal meeting of the same, and a serious attention paid to the importance 
of the subject. The blessings of a free Government, and an undisturbed, 
impartial administration of justice, are the peculiar advantages of freemen, 
and when contrasted with the miseries attendant upon a despotism, appear 
as objects too dear to be sacrificed without a struggle. So sensible of 
these advantages were the good people of this Commonwealth in formiug 
their Constitution, that they, with grateful hearts, acknowledge the good- 
ness of the Great Legislator of the Universe iri affording them in the course 
of this Providence, an opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without 
fraud, violence, or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit and solemn 
compact with each other, whereby the dignity of man was preserved, his 
essential rights and liberties guarded, and the fruits of his honest industry 
and labor secured to him, against the avaricious grasp of a despot or his 
minions. Under a Constitution so mild and equal, being neither the result 
of fear or surprise, nor any system imposed upon us by a foreign power ; 
but made our own free act and deed, by our voluntary consent in which 
the various branches of government are wisely separated, arranged and 
organized, and so ample provision made for the regular and impartial 
administration of law and justice, we flattered ourselves we should have 
enjoyed for a long time the blessings of peace, good order and harmony. 
From our government being annually elective by the people, they have a 
complete control over their rulers, and it is our peculiar advantage that 
both governors and governed feel alike every public burden, and share in 
common every calamity and distress. 

If at any time we are agrieved, the avenues to Government, when we 
apply for redress, are not closed against us, nor guarded by a military 
power to overawe us. We have a right to apply for relief, and the Con- 
stitution has pointed out an easy, cheap, and expeditious mode, unattended 
with any of those dangers to which the Commonwealth may be exposed, 
when combinations of armed men undertake to redress what they deem 
grievances, and in effect legislate for the whole people. The late tumul- 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 439 

tuous and riotous proceedings in some counties of this Commonwealth in 
interrupting and stopping the Courts of Justice, from which government 
derives so much energy and support, are so repugnant to the Constitution, 
and so abhorent to every idea of peace and good order, that we think it is 
our indispensable duty to bear this public testimony against them, as sub- 
versive of government, and tending to introduce a state of anarchy which 
may terminate in the establishment of despotism and arbitrary power. 

We deprecate the consequences of svxch proceedings, as having a tendency 
to remove every guard and barrier which the Constitution has placed over 
our lives, liberties and property, and everything else men hold dear in 
civilized societies. 

The zeal and activity displayed by his Excellency the Governor in 
calling upon the good people of this State to exert their efforts to avert the 
impending ruin, are so expressive of his anxious solicitude for the safety 
of the Commonwealth, and of his determination to support it, that we 
cannot on this occasion forbear to express the highest approbation of his 
conduct. We are sensible there are grievances, we feel them in common 
with our fellow-citizens, and have cheerfully participated in all their 
calamities and embarrassments. But whether all the gi'ievances we com- 
plain of originated from government, is a subject of very serious enquiry. 
Cannot we trace many of them in luxurious, dissipated living, in idleness, 
in want of temperance, honesty, industry, frugality and economy. 
Surely these are sources from whence many spring, and a reformation in 
these respects will operate a cure of almost all the evils that at present 
distress us. We know of no grievances that cannot be redressed in a con- 
stitutional manner, and are unwilling to cast a reproach upon government 
while our own private vices are the principal obstacles to its doing all that 
good we might reasonably expect from it. 

We lament the delusion of some of our brethren, and that the arts and 
intrigues of wicked and designing men have precipitated them into such 
violent outrages upon law and government. We doubt not, however, upon 
a cool and dispassionate consideration of the evil consequences of such 
measures, they will be convinced of their inefficiency in procuring the 
redress of any grievances, that the design of their leaders is the total sub- 
version of our Constitution and erecting their power upon its ruin, and 
that the evils they and we labor under are rather the offsprings of our 
vices than the faults of goverment. 

This town has borne its full share of all the burdens, losses and ex- 
penses, of the late war, and its subsequent proportion of public expenses 
since the peace. The present form of government was deliberately 



440 HISTORY OP HAVEIiniLL. 

adopted, and we wish not to sec it sacrificed. We are ready, therefore, to 
join you in a firm and vigorous support of our Constitution, in the redress 
of grievances and in promoting industry, economy, and every other virtue 
which can exalt and render a nation respectable. 

Per order, James Brickett, 

Chairman of the Committee." 
Well may the descendants of these patriotic men glory in the title " Son 
of Old Haverhill." Though the " full share of all the burdens, losses and 
expenses," of the long and arduous struggle for liberty, had fallen upon 
them, they had " deliberately adopted " the rules for their government, 
would not consent to see them sacrificed, and were "ready to join in a 
firm and vigorous support of our Constitution." Shame on him who can 
speak lightly of blessings and privileges purchased at such a price! 
Eather let us fervently pray — 

" Long be our father's temple ours ; 
Wo to the hand by Avhich it falls ; 
Departed spirits watch its towers — 
May living patriots guard its walls ! " 

The General Court passed several measures for the relief of the heavily 
burdened tax-payers, and by offers of free pardon for the past, endeavored 
to induce the mis-guided insurgents to cease their opposition to the gov- 
ernment. It was not, however, until several regiments of militia were 
ordered out, and the most vigorous measures adopted, that the insurrection 
was finally quelled. 

Among those called out, was a detachment of the militia of this town.'"' 
At a meeting in April, 1787, the town voted to pay them " 8s per month," 
in addition to what they received from the State. 

One of the safeguards adopted in the then unsettled state of the public 
mind, was that requiring persons elected to ofl&ce, to "take and subscribe 
the oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," in order to 
qualify them to act in their several offices. At the March meeting in 1787, 
each and every town officer was " sworn into office," and the principal 
officers " took and subscribed to the oath of allegiance," in addition. This 
is the first mention we find of one of our town officers taking the oath of 
office. 

In November, of the same year, Bailey Bartlett, Esq., and Captain 
Nathaniel Marsh, were chosen delegates to a State Convention at Boston, 

o Their names were, Moses Marsh, Sarjeant ; Moses Brickett, Joseph Mullican, Samuel MidJleton, 
Caleb Gushing, Daniel Eames, Timothy Johnson, David Ayer. They enlisted January 9th, 1787, to serve 
thirty days A-om the 23d of the same month. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 441 

to ratify tlie Federal Constitution. After several weeks' discussion, it was 
approved, by a vote of 187 to 168. The first election under tlie new 
Constitution, was lield December 18th, 1788. 

At the annual meeting in 1789, it was " Voted to choose a Committee 
to Inspect the schools. The committee chosen were as follows — viz : — 
The settled Clergymen and Selectmen, Isaac Osgood Esq, Hon Nathaniel 
P. Sargeant Esq, Mr John White, Capt Francis Carr, & Capt Samuel 
Merrill. 

Voted the above Committee Visit the Schools Quarterly and make Ee- 
port to the Town, at their Annual March & fall Meetings." 

This was the first " School Committee " in the town, and so well did the 
plan commend itself to the inhabitants, that the next year the committee 
were " desired to reccommend such rules and regulations in the schools as 
they shall think proper ; " and a similar committee has been annually 
chosen since that time. 

October 6th, of the same year, a meeting was called to see if the town 
would build a " Work House " for their poor. After choosing a committee 
to consider the matter, visit other towns, and ascertain the present cost of 
supporting the poor of the town, the meeting adjourned. The next Aj^ril 
the committee reported that it would not be good policy or economy for 
the town to erect a work -house, as most of their poor were too old or infirm 
to labor much, and could be better supported as they then were (in " good 
families.") They give the names of twenty persons and one family, then 
mostly supported by the town, at an expense of about one hundred and 
twenty-seven pounds per annum. 

The year 1789 occupies a prominent place in the unwritten history of 
our town, and deserves an equally prominent one in its written history, as 
the year in which the First President of the Eepublic visited the town, 
and gladdened the hearts of its patriotic inhabitants by his visible pre- 
sence among them. 

George Washington was elected President of the United States on the 
4th of March, 1789, and was inaugurated on the 50th of the following 
month. The peculiar and unsettled state of the public mind and afi"airs 
at that period of our political history, together with a desire on the part of 
AVashington to examine the resources of the new goverment, and the dis- 
position of the people toward it, induced him to make an early tour 
through New England! Soon after the adjournment of the first Congress, 
he started on the proposed journey. 

He left New York on the loth of October, 1789, and visited as far east 

as the old town (now city) of Portsmouth, N. H. Everywhere on the 
56 



442 HISTORY or haverhill. 

route he was received with the strongest marks of respect — in matiy in-' 
stances bordering on veneration. He journeyed in an open carriage, drawn 
by four horses, accompanied only by his Secretary, (Mr. Lear,) Major 
Jackson, and a single servant. Mr. Lear, upon a beautiful white horse, 
usually rode in advance of the carriage, which was occupied by Washing- 
ton and Mr. Jackson, and driven by the Presidents's private coachman. 
Compared with modern turnouts, the equipage of our first President was 
plain and unpretending, and a model of Republican simplicity. His 
journey east from Boston lay along the seaboard, through Salem, Newbury- 
port, and the line of towns on the then principal road from Boston to- 
Maine. 

The news of Washington's tour early reached the people of Haverhill, 
and, as might be expected, awakened the liveliest interest. Soon the in- 
telligence came that he had passed through Ncwburyport on his way to 
Portsmouth, and would return by way of Haverhill. This added to the 
already rapidly increasing interest and excitement, and the most respecta- 
ble citizens of the town prepared to receive their Chief Magistrate in a 
manner becoming his exalted station and distinguished character. Anon, 
came a rumor that Washington would go from Portsmouth direct to Con- 
cord, and would not return this way, which cast its dark shadow over the 
whole community. To have the joyfully-anticipated honor and pleasure 
of a visit from Washington so suddenly taken away, was a most painful 
disappointment to the good people of Haverhill ; and their sad faces and 
subdued tones of voice, in the frequent and earnest discussion as to the 
probabilities of his coming, and of the reasons why he should so suddenly 
change his route, fully revealed the deep and firm hold our country's 
Pathcr had in the hearts and aflPections of his children. 

Among those who most keenly felt the disappointment were Kev. Gyles 
INIerrill and Mr. Jonathan Payson. When the day arrived that the dis- 
tinguished visitor was to have passed through the town, they could not be 
content to risk losing the golden opportunity of seeing him ; and resolving 
that " see him they must," if it were possible, they mounted their horses 
and started for Exeter, through which place Washington would pass on 
his way to Concord. The young daughters of these gentlemen, (Sally 
White and Sally Merrill — the first-named a step-daughter of Mr. Payson) 
through much pleading, and most probably tears, obtained permission of 
their parents to accompany them in the family chaise. With hearts light- 
ened by the renewed prospect of a consummation of their much-desired 
wishes, the little party started early in the forenoon for Exeter, 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 443 

A few miles this side of their place of destination (in the town of King- 
ston) , they unexpectedly met the equipage of Washington ! The gentlemen 
in their own all-absorbing interest, quite forgot their young charges; and 
the latter, well-nigh transported at the sight of the noble and dignified 
form and face of Washington, forgot all things else, and in an absent- 
minded attempt to turn aside and give room for the carriage to pass, the 
young ladies were thrown from the chaise. The excitement of the moment, 
rendered them quite insensible to fright or pain ; and before the horsemen 
could dismount, the young misses were upon their feet, declaring most 
vehemently that they were not hurt — not in the least. Arriving oppo- 
site to them, Washington ordered his carriage stopped, and kindly enquired 
— "I hope, young ladies, you are not injured ? " Being assured by their 
appearance and replies that they had escaped unhurt, he congratulated 
them on their good fortune, and, respectfully saluting them and their com- 
panions, directed his party to move on. 

The people of Haverhill had reluctantly yielded to the unwelcome rumor 
above-mentioned, and had settled into the conviction that notwithstanding 
their well-earned fame in the (then) recent struggle for their country's 
independence, and their well-known devotion to the cause and its distin- 
guished defender, their beloved and venerated chief had passed them by. 
Oppressed with such thoughts as these, each turned aside to attend to his 
daily avocation, and the day wore slowly away, until the sun had passed 
his meridian, and unusual quiet and stillness reigned in the pleasant little 
-village " at the foot of the hill." 

But hark ! what sound was that ? Again it comes upon the iinwonted 
stillness. It is a trumpet ! The villagers rush to their doors to learn 
from whence comes the strange sound. It is soon explained. Down the 
hill gallops a single horseman, hare-headed, and at full speed, one hand 
guiding his foaming steed, while with the other he at short intervals imi- 
tates the shrill blast of a trumpet, alternating it with the cry, " W^ashington 
is coming ; AVashington is coming ! " As he draws up to the " Mason's 
Arms, "'••■= he is recognized as Timothy Osgood a well-known citizen of the 
town. He had seen Washington at Exeter, and learning that he was en 
route for Haverhill, had lost no time in hastening to notify his townsmen. 

Immediately the tones of the village bell broke forth. Those who had 
not heard the ex-tempore trumpet, quickly caught the sound of the bell, 
and it needed no other tongue to interpret the meaning of the sudden peal ! 
Xever before had spoken that little bell more acceptably to the villagers ; 

<* Harrod's Tavern, the sign for which was a painting representing the Freemason's Arms. 



444 HISTORY or havebhill. 

never before had it rang a merrier peal. Eound and round it went, with 
a speed almost supernatural ; it seemed as if indeed propelled by some 
weird power ; while its musical tones, eagerly caught up by the swift- 
moving November breeze, followed each other with marvellous rapidity, 
and fell upon the ears of the overjoyed citizens in golden showers. 

The old schoolmaster, as he paced back and forth in his little palace at 
the head of the green, suddenly stopped midway his round, as the first 
tone leaped through the whittled-edged chink in the door, and with a spas- 
modic '• School's dismissed," scarce found patience to wait the exit of his 
startled scholars." Horses were saddled and mounted in such a brief 
space of time that their very legs trembled with excitement ; and in an 
exceedingly short time, a company of horsemen was formed, composed of 
some of the most respectable citizens in the place, and advanced to meet 
and escort the President into town. 

Washington entered the village about half-past two o'clock in the 
afternoon of Wednesday, November 4th, and took up his quarters at Har- 
rod's Tavern, which was situated on what is now the Town Hall lot, 
though earnestly invited to occupy apartments prepared for him by Mr. 
John White, at his residence on AVater Street, (on the site of Mr. West's 
present residence). The President called on Mr. White, whose daughter- 
in-law had often been a visitor at his own house in Philadelphia ; took a 
social glass of wine with him, and acknowledged his obligations for such 
kindness ; but expressed his preference for a public house ; and, in answer 
to a suggestion of his would-be -hostess, observed that he was " an old sol- 
dier, and used to hard fare, and a hard bed." 

He had on, at the time, a drab surtout, then a fashionable color with 
the "most respectable gentlemen," and a military hat. He is described 
to us, by several who distinctly remember his visit to the place, as very 
tall and straight, and remarkably dignified in his looks and manners. 

On alighting at the tavern, he was introduced to several of the most 
prominent citizens of the town ; and after a short rest, he walked about 
the town, visiting various points of interest, and entering into conversa- 
tion upon the location, business, and commercial and other advantages of the 
town. He called at the residence of Sheriff Bartlett, (who was absent at the 
time) and left his regai'ds for j\Ir. B., and his thanks for the attentions 
shown him on his journey east. (Air. Bartlett, as Sheriff, aided by his 
Deputies, had escorted Washington through the county). He paid a visit 
to the small duck factory which had been recently started by Samuel Blod- 
gett, Esq., on Kent Street, and seemed to share in the interest with which 

" A /act; as is also svery other incident given in this sketch. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 445 

the enterprise was regarded by the citizens. He walked up Merrimack 
Street, and as far as what is now Washington Square and Washington 
Street (so named in honor of his visit) , and repeatedly remarked upon the 
pleasantness and beauty of the scenery, the location of the village, and 
his pleasure in noticing the thrift and enterprise of its citizens. His ob- 
servation that " Haverhill is the plcasantcst village I have passed through," 
was esteemed a high compliment at the time, and has been transmitted 
from father to son, as an unanswerable argument in favor of his "home, 
sweet home," as the best place for the exercise of enterprise, and the en- 
joyment of life. 

As Washington's eye, from his eligible stand-point near Little Kiver 
Bridge, took in the then unobstructed view for miles up and down the 
Merrimack, he almost involuntarily exclaimed, — " Beautiful, beautiful ! " 
He especially admired the situation of the Saltonstall residence, just below 
the village (now the Duncan place) , and pronounced it a most charming 
and picturesque location for a home. 

Among the several parties who called upon Washington, at his lodgings, 
were Eevs. John Shaw and Gyles Merrill, and Mr. Jonathan Payson, with 
the little daughter of Mr. Shaw, and the step-daughter of Mr. Payson — 
two bright little misses, and play -mates, of about eight years of age, named 
Mary White and Betsey Shaw. The pleasant " And how do the little 
ladies do ? " with the familiar shake of the hand which followed their in- 
troduction to the President, was never forgotten by those to whom it was 
addressed, and they never tired repeating all the little incidents of their 
interview with the " Great Washington." While engaged in easy conver- 
sation with the gentlemen, the President called the little girls to him, and 
taking one upon each knee, soon completely dispelled their childish timid- 
ity by his kind words and gentle manner. During the interview, 
Washington drew from his pocket a glove, and smilingly enquired — 
" Which of the little misses will mend my glove ? " After a little pleas- 
ant rivalry between them, each being eager for the honor, the matter was 
duly arranged on a sort of copartnership basis, and the young misses 
retired with the glove. 

On their return to the room, with the glove neatly repaired, he thanked 
them for the favor, and drawing them to his chair, imprinted a kiss upon 
the lips of each ; the recollectiou of which, the reader may be assured, 
never lost the vividness and freshness of the first gentle pressure. A kiss 
from the lips of AVashington was a treasure of no mean value ! As might 
be supposed, the quickly-published success of these little misses stimulated 
a desire on the part of others to secure a like favor ; among whom were 



446 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL, 

two of about the same age, who, after much teasing, were allowed to ask 
permission to " kiss his hand." On answering their timid knock at his 
door, and hearing their respectful request, AV'ashington expressed his will- 
ingness to exchange kisses with the little beggars ; and suiting the action 
to the word, the " Father of his Country " made happy the hearts of two 
more of his large family of children, by a paternal kiss. 

In accordance with his usual custom, "Washington made jireparations to 
retire at an early hour. Soon after he had retired to his room, a little 
boy came into the tavern, and expressed a desire to see " George Wash- 
ington." He was told that he could not see him; upon which he burst 
into tears, and declared that he " must see George Washington." After 
vainly endeavoring to pacify the boy, he was ordered to leave the house, 
as his request could not be granted. Upon this, the little fellow's distress 
burst through all barriers of self-restraint, and he startled the inmates of 
the whole house with his piercing cries. Before he could be removed, 
Washington, hearing the uproar, and learning the cause, requested that 
the boy be brought to his room. The little fellow was accordingly taken 
up ; and, as he entered the room, and through his tears looked upon 
Washington, he seemed completely bewildered, and riveted to the spot. 
He had doubtless listened to many a story of the " great Washington " 
from his mother's lips, and had seen the interest and . excitement in the 
village in consequence of his visit ; and these had so wrought upon his 
childish imagination, that he verily believed he was to see a being of cor- 
responding physical magnitude, and completely answering his boyish ideal 
of a god. Washington kindly enquired of the boy what he wanted. " I 
want to see George Washington," stammered the little fellow. Calling 
the lad to his side, Washington gently patted his head, saying — " I am 
George Washington, my little lad, but I am only a man.'" 

It was an unusually cold day for the season, and as Washington was 
chilly and fatigued with the day's travel, and the " best bed" had not 
been used for some time, the careful hostess concluded that it would be 
prudent to have the bed warmed before her distinguished lodger retired. 
This conclusion was overheard by her" young daughter, who lost no time 
in carrying the plan into execution. Her adventure is thus narrated by 
herself, seventy years afterward : — 

*' As all and everybody were contending for the honor of doing some- 
thing for that great and good man, I, with others, thought, what can i do ? 
Accordingly, I took the warming-pan, and rushed into the chamber, where 
sat in state, in my mother's easy-chair, President Washington. As I 



HISTORY OF HAVERniLL. 447 

remember, I was about eleven years old," and at that time, being very 
diffident, I was almost frightened to death to think in whose presence I 
was. I guess I did not stop to make the bed very warm, but as I was 
leaving the chamber, he rose from his chair and kissed me. I went below 
and told of it, and for years after, it was my boast and pride. "f 

The next morning, the militia of the town were called out and paraded, 
for the inspection of their Commander-in-Chief, The line was formed on 
the north side of Water Street, extending from the corner of Main Street 
east. There were about one hundred in the line, and several are still 
living who remember of seeing Washington standing on the opposite side 
of Water Street, with Major Jackson on his right and Mr. Lear on his 
left, as he witnessed the modest parade of the " citizen soldiers " of the 
town in honor of his visit. 

He left town about sun-rise the next morning after his arrival, via the 
old ferry, nearly opposite the foot of Kent Street. For some cause, not 
now distinctly remembered, except that it was occasioned by the ferry- 
boat, he was delayed some little time, after arriving at the ferry-way. 
While standing in the porch of Mr. Bartlett's residence, (Israel Bartlett, 
Esq.,) on the north-east corner of Water and Kent Streets, waiting the 
slow motions of the boat, and surrounded by the principal citizens of 
the place, and nearly the whole of the neighboring population, Mr. Bart- 
lett politely invited him to "step in and sit till the boat was ready." 
Washington was apparently about to accept the invitation, when a near 
neighbor of Mr. Bartlett's, Gen, Brickett, who lived just below, and directly 
opposite the ferry, said — " General, won't you please go into my house ? 
it is much nearer the boat." With the sagacity for which he was ever so 
remarkable, Washington detected in an instant the real reason of the 
second invitation, and thanking the gentlemen for their invitations, cour- 
teously declined them both. This little incident was never forgotten by 
the first party, who could hardly forgive his neighbor for depriving him of 
the distinguished honor of having received Washington beneath his own 
roof. 

Among those who had tried hard to obtain an interview with Washing- 
ton while in Haverhill, was Bart Pecker — one who had served his country 
long and faithfully as a soldier in the Kevolutionary army. Bart had 
been a brave man and a faithful soldier, and was for some time one of the 

° She was in her twelfth year. 

t Since the above was written, we have had the pleasure of an interview with the >vriter, who is still 
living, (September, 1S60.) and in the enjoyment of excellent health. She remembers that in her confusion 
and awkwardness, she stumbled and fell, as she was leaving the room, and thinks that this was, perhaps, 
the immediate occasion of her receiving the envied kiss. 



448 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

famous "Washington Life Guards ;" but his love of grog increasing with his 
years, had interfered sadly with his standing in the community. Although 
he pleaded hard for a chance to speak to Washington, whom he declared 
he was " well acquainted with," he was purposely kept in the hack- 
ground on account of his habits and shabby appearance. But just as 
Washington had taken leave of his escort, and was about to step into the 
boat, Bart's patience gave way, and with a fierce ejaculation thai he would 
•' speak to the General," he pushed through the crowd, and extending his 
hand, cried out, excitedly, " General, how do you do ? " Washington 
apparently recognized the voice, and, turning quickly, grasped his hand 
and replied — " Bart, is this you?" and quietly slipping a gold picco 
into the hand of the overjoyed old soldier, bade him " good-bye," and 
hastened on board the waiting boat. 

AVashiugton arrived in Xcw York the 13th of November, having been 
absent about one month. Ever after, he was pleased to speak of his New 
England tour as one of the most pleasant incidents of his public life. 

AVe cannot more appropriately close this pleasant episode in our town's 
history, than by inserting the following extract from the diary kept by 
Washington during his tour : — 

" W^ednesday 4th. About half after seven I left Portsmouth, quietly, 
and without any attendance, having earnestly entreated that all parade 
and ceremony might be avoided on my return. Before ten I reached 
Exeter, 14 miles distance. This is conSaered as the second town in New 
Hampshire, and stands at the head of the tide-water of Piscataqua Eiver ; 
but ships of 3 or 400 tons are built at it. Above (but in the town) are 
considerable falls, which supply several grist-mills, 2 oil mills, a slitting 
mill, and snuff mill. It is a place of some consequence, but does not con- 
tain more than 1,000 inhabitants. A jealousy subsists between this town 
(where the legislature alternately sits,) and Portsmouth ; which, had I 
known it in time, would have made it necessary to have accepted an invi- 
tation to a public dinner, but my arrangements having been otherwise 
made, I could not. Prom hence, passing through Kingston, (6 miles from 
Exeter) I arrived at Haverhill about half past two, and stayed all night. 
AValked through the town, which stands at the head of the tide of Merri- 
mack River, and in a beautiful part of the country. The lands over 
which I travelled to-day, arc pretty much mixed in places with stone — 
and the growth with pines — till I came near to Haverhill, where they 
disappeared, and the land had a more fertile appearance. The whole were 
pretty well cultivated, but used (principally) for grass and Indian corn. 
In Haverhill is a Duck manufactory, upon a small but ingenious scale, 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 449 

under tlie conduct of Colo fi At this manufactory one small per- 
son turns a wlieel whicli employs eight spinners, each acting independently 
of the other, so as to occasion no interruption to the rest if any one of 
them is stopped — whereas at the Boston manufactory of this article, each 
spinner has a small girl to turn the wheel. The looms are also somewhat 
diiferently constructed from those of the common kind, and upon an im- 
proved plan. The inhabitt's of this small village were well disposed 
to welcome me to it hy every demonstration which could evince their joy. 
Thursday 5th. About sunrise I set out, crossing the Merrimack River 
at the town, over to the township of Bradford, and in nine miles came to 
Abbott's tavern, in Andover, where we breakfasted, and met with much 
attention from Mr Phillips, President of the Senate of Massachusetts, 
who accompanied us through Bellarika to Lexington, where I dined, and 
viewed the spot on which the first blood was spilt in the dispute with 
Great Britain, on the 19th of April 1775." 

<* Samuel Blodgett. 

67 



450 HISTORY or nAVERHni. 



CHAPTEE XXIV. 

1790 TO 1800. 



The close of the Eevolution found our town, in common witli others, 
seriously embarrassed. The war had been carried on under many and 
great disadvantages, and at an enormous expense ; and the peace -which 
followed, found the people, of IMassachusetts particularly, with a heavy 
debt upon them, for the payment of which they were compelled to make 
provision. Their resources were limited, their industry crippled ; and it 
was several years before the blessings of peace were seen in their full 
vigor. But that time came at last, and the period when our chapter opens 
found our town already well started on the high road to general prosperity. 

Ship-building and commerce, which had been almost entirely suspended 
during the war,, were again resumed, and with energy. The long silence 
of our ship-yards was succeeded by the busy hum of axe and hammer, 
and the white wings of commerce once more gladdened the face of the 
beautiful Merrimack, cheering the heart and nerving the arm of all classes 
and conditions of our citizens. There were at this time two ship-yards in 
the village, and one at the " Kocks," in full operation." The yard at the 
Eocks was discontinued about the year 1800. The usual kind of vessels 
were built in these yards, including ships, brigs, snows, f schooners, and 
sloops. 

The commerce and trade of the town at this time was large. Several 
of our merchants were large exporters and importers to and from England 
and the West Indies. Vessels sometimes sailed to and from this place to 
London direct, though the larger ships were laden and unladen at New- 
buryport, or Boston. From the former place, the goods were carried to 
and from Haverhill in long boats, or gondolas ; and from the latter in 
snows, and smaller vessels. The AVest India trade was carried on in the 
same manner, though vessels more frequently sailed direct. Among 

° Persons yet living can remember when three vessels were launched in a single day in the village. In 
1810, nine vessels were built here, and fifty to sixty men kept constantly employed in the shipyards. 

t Snoto. A vessel equipped with two masts, resembling the main and fore-masts of a ship, and a third 
small mast just abaft the main-mast, carrying a try-sail. — Mar. Diet. 



EISTORY OF nAVERHILL. 451 

tte articles exported, were large quantities of corn and grain, beef, fish, 
lumber, pearl-asbes, linseed oil, tow cloth, and a great variety of other 
articles in smaller quantities. In return, sugar and molasses were received 
from the West Indies, and the usual variety of goods from London. This 
town was for a long time the head-quarters of trade for a large back 
country, and our wharves, warehouses, and shipping, gave the place quite 
a port-ly appearance. The goods and articles of trade were transported 
to and from the interior wholly by oxen, hundreds of which were con- 
stantly employed in the business. 

Among the principal merchants of the town about this time, were John 
White, Benjamin Willis, James Duncan, James Duncan, Jr., and Isaac 
Osgood. 

Mr. White lived in the house now owned and occupied by Thomas 
West, Esq., next west of the Merrimack Bank, Water Street, and his 
store stood on the spot now occupied by the above named Bank building. 
His house, which he built in 1766, was a large three-story mansion, and 
one of the most imposing and costly dwellings in the region. Its massive 
front door, with the portico and pillars have been removed. . Its deep and 
terraced front yard, with varied shrubbery and flowers ; its ample stone 
steps, and high fence of fanciful trellis work ; and its tall poplar trees, 
have all disappeared. The street now presses close to the house, which 
iias been extensively re-modeled, and retains but little of its ancient 
aristocratic and wealthy appearance. The large garden in the rear of the 
mansion, with its regular squares, fringed with boxwood — its neatly 
gravelled walks — its terraces, and rare varieties of imported fruit trees 
— is now despoiled of its beauty, and nearly covered with stables. Mr. 
White, or " Marchant " White, as he was familiarly called, was for many 
years not only a prominent business man, but a highly respected, wealthy, 
and influential citizen. He was largely engaged in commerce, and im- 
ported and exported large amounts of merchandise. When Washington 
passed through Haverhill, he called upon Mr. White, whose daughter-in- 
law (Mrs. Leonard White) had been a frequent visitor — sometimes for 
weeks together — of Mrs. Washington, and exchanged healths with the 
merchant in a glass of wine.-' 

Mr. Willis was a son of Benjamin Willis, a ship-master of Charlestown, 
INIass. The latter, during the early part of the Eevolution, was taken 
prisoner by the British, at sea, and carried into Eustacia. When he re- 
turned, on being exchanged, he found his house burned, and learned that 

« Mr. White died ia 1800, .~.ged 76 years. 



452 HISTORY OP HATERHILt, 

his family had taken refuge in Haverhill. He settled here with thenJ 
after the llevolution, and became largely engaged in shipping. Benjamin^ 
Jr., while yet a young man, went to London, as supercargo, in one of his 
father's vessels — the brig "Benjamin and Nancy," -—where he became 
acquainted with a Mr. John Dickinson, a large merchant of that city, who 
took a strong liking to the young American, and recommended him to en- 
gage in -the mercantile business in Haverhill, at the same time offering to 
furnish him Avith a full stock of goods to start with. The offer was ac- 
cepted, and from this beginning Mr. Willis soon became one of the largest 
importers in the State. His cargoes usually came to Newburyport in 
brigs, and were transported from thence to this town in boats. 

Mr. James Duncan was a son of George Duncan, one of the early set- 
tlers of Londonderry, In early life, he started out with a small pack of 
goods, as a pedlar, and from this small beginning, he rose to be quite an 
extensive merchant. He came to Haverhill some time previous to 1750, 
and resided here until his death, which occurred in 1818, at the advanced 
age of ninety-two years, Mr. Duncan was succeeded in business by his 
son, James Duncan, Jr., who soon became one of the leading merchants of 
the place, and was not only in both the foreign and domestic trade, but 
was largely interested in shipping. He built and furnished the first store 
in Lebanon, N. H., at which place he also erected potash works, and a 
mill for grinding flax-seed. Loading his heavy ox-teams with a variety 
of foreign goods, from his head-qiiarters in Haverhill, for his store in 
Lebanon, they returned laden with pearl-ashes, linseed oil, flax-seed, grain, 
and various other articles of expoi't and exchange. Some idea of the 
extent of this country trade may be gathered from the fact that, during a 
single period of twenty-six months, Mr, Duncan sent over $90,000 worth 
of goods to his store in Lebanon. At this period, large quantities of 
flax-seed, and pot and pearl-ashes, were exported to England and Ireland. 
The flax-seed was mostly sent to Ireland. Mr. Duncan was a man of 
a high order of business talent, and great enterprise. Though deprived 
of the advantages of a liberal education, he made such good use of 
his time and means for information, that fe\y could equal him in legal, 
mercantile, and general knowledge. He was at one time deeply interested 
in military affairs, and, as a major, commanded the companies of cavalry 
which escorted Washington, in 1789, from Boston to the New Hampshire 
line. He died in 1822, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. 

Mr. Osgood was a native of Andover. He came to Haverhill about 
175 — , and was for many years one of our i^rincipal merchants, and most 
influential citizens. His store, (a wooden building, with gambrel roof,) 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 453 

Was situated a few rods east of the bridge. Previous to the Eevolution, 
Mr. Osgood was quite largely engaged in the West India trade, hut after 
the war, he was more particularly interested in that of London. He 
■ erected, and operated for many years, a large distillery near his store. 
Subsequently, the distillery was changed to a brewery, and was used as 
such for several years. It afterward fell into the hands of Mr. Dickenson, 
of London, and after lying idle for a long time, the latter gentleman made 
a present of it to Benjamin Willis, Jr., by whom it was torn down, to give 
place to the stores known as the " Willis Block." The worms and boilers 
were cast into sleigh-bells, by Mr. Bailey, of the West Parish, and the 
clay around the vats was used in making bricks for the new block.-' 

Mr. Osgood died in 1791, and was succeeded in business by his son, 
Peter Osgood, who will be remembered by many of our readers. 

The population of the town, at the time our chapter opens, was two 
thousand four hundred and eight, and its valuation, 1,519,41 Lf 

At this period, newspapers and letters were carried through the country 
by persons who rode on horse-back, called "Post-riders." Samuel Bean 
was post-rider from Boston to Concord, N. H, His route was through 
Andover, Haverhill, Atkinson, Kingston, Exeter, Epping, Nottingham, 
Deerfield, and Pembroke to Concord : • returning, he passed through Lon- 
donderry and Haverhill. He performed the route once a week. The first 
stage from Haverhill to Boston was started about this time. It was a two- 
horse coach, and owned by a Mr. Gage. Gage owned one horse, and as 
often as he could make certain of a suflGicient number of passengers for a 
load, he hired another horse and run his coach. He performed the route 
only when he had custom. Mr. Kobert Willis remembers that in Septem- 
ber, 1792, when himself and his brothers were taken by his mother to 
Boston (to be inoculated with the small pox) they crossed the ferry here 
just as the sun was rising, and when the coach crossed the bridge at 
Charlestown, the lamps were already lighted in the evening — thus making 
the journey in about twelve hours. In 1793, a stage commenced running 
regularly once a week ; and the same year it was changed to twice a 
week. 

An advertisement in a Boston paper, under date of April 9, 1793, in- 
forms the public that " The Haverhill Stage Coach is complete, with 
genteel curtains & cushions, & a pair of able horses, ready for service." 

° The block was erected in 1811, by Benjamin Willis, Kimball Carleton, Warner Whittier, and James 
Haseltine, who owned one store each. It was the first hrich block erected in the town. The Banister 
Block was built in 1815. 

t The first United States Census was taken this year — 1790. 



4:54 HISTORY OP haverhill. 

It was to " set out from Chadwick's ferry in Bradford on Tuesday tlie IGth 
at G oclock, precisely, and it expects to arrive at Mr. Abbott's in Andover 
before S, & at Mr. Pcabody's in Boston before one." The proprietor gave 
notice that he " intends in a short time that the stage performs this route 
t'wice in a week. Fare 3d a mile." There is no name attached to the 
advertisement, but we believe that Judge Blodgett was the proprietor. 

In November, (1793) a stage commenced running twice a week from 
this place to Concord, X. H., connecting with the Boston stage. It was 
owned by parties in this town, Chester, and Concord. The mail, however, 
continued to be carried on horse-back for several years after the establish' 
ment of a regular line of stages. 

At the celebration attending the opening of the " Andover & Haverhill 
Eailroad " to Bradford, in October, 1837, Hon. Leverctt Saltonstall, of 
Salem, alluded in a very happy manner to the great contrast between the 
rates of travelling at the present time, and years gone by. He said he 
arrived in Boston from Salem, fifteen miles, in the morning, by stage ; — 
and after waiting three-quarters of an hour, he embarked in the cars for 
Haverhill — a further distance of thirty-two miles ; and, after spending 
some hours in the latter place, he hoped to return to Boston in the cars in 
the afternoon, and after remaining a half-an-hour there, return to his 
family in Salem before eight o'clock in the evening. He Avell recollected 
the setting up of the first stage-coach between Boston and Haverhill, some 
forty or fifty years before, by Judge Blodgett, of Haverhill. It started 
very early in the morning from Haverhill, in order to have time to perform 
the distance, and arrive comfortably in Boston before dark ! The boys 
followed it as it passed through the villages, and the women put their 
heads out of the windows, gazing upon the wonder, and the welkin ruug 
with the shouts of " Tue Stage, The Stage ! " A stage-coach was soon 
afterward established to run between Haverhill and Concord, N. H. This 
was considered a most extraordinary event, and one of the leaders had a 
bell, of a size nearly equal to that of the bell of the Academy, suspended 
to his neck, the sound of which could be heard a great distance, to give 
the intelligence that the stage ivas coming I 

At the annual meeting in 1790, the town granted leave, on the petition 
of Judge Sargeant, for " trees to be set out on the public land." The land 
referred to was doubtless the common, and we presume it was at this time 
that the sycamores, — which have been removed but a few years, — were 
set out. Judge Sargeant's house adjoined the common, on the north." At 

o It stood on the site no\y occupied hy the Unitarian Church, and was removed to make place for that 
structure. It now stands, with but litHe alteration, ou the south-west corner of Winter and Spring 
Street*. 



HISTORY OP HAVEBHILI. 455 

the next annual meeting, General James Brickett and others petitioned 
"to have the trees lately set out in the Training Field removed," but no 
action was taken on the article. 

From a report made to the town this year, we learn that twenty-four 
. persons were at this time supported, in whole or in part, by the town, at 
an expense of £130. A proposition was made to erect a poor-house, but 
it was not agreed to. A similar proposition was made six years later, 
but was also rejected. 

This year, (1790) the collection of the town taxes was, for the first 
time, sold at " vendue," to the lowest bidder, by parishes. They were bid 
off at eight and one-half to eleven pence on the pound. 

Previous to this time, swine had been allowed to run at large ; but a 
district was now laid out, including the village, within which they were 
in future to be deprived of that privilege. The line run " from Mill 
Brook to the Upper Sands, and then back to Peter Bradley's ; then to 
Dea. Ayer's Pond ; and then to the bound first mentioned." 

At a meeting in October of this year, Samuel Walker, from tlie school 
committee, submitted a code of regulations for the government of the 
Grammar Schools in town, which were adopted. There were thirteen 
rules, in substance as follows : — 

1. None should be admitted into the Grammar Schools but such as 
could with a degi-ee of readiness read words of two sylables. All " under 
this description" were to be provided for by employing school-mistresses. 

2. From May 1st to September 1st, the schools should commence at 
8 A. M., and 2 P. M., and close at 12 M., and 6 P. M. ; and from Septem- 
ber to May, should begin at 9 A. M., and 1^ P. M., and close at 12 M., 
and 4J P. M. 

3. There should be no school kept on the afternoon of Saturdays, and 
Lecture-days, nor on the day of the annual town meeting in March, the 
annual Election day, the 4th of July, and Tuesday, AVednesday, and 
Thursday of Commencement Week at Cambridge. 

4. The schools should be divided into two or more classes. The senior 
class only to be taught writing and arithmetic. The Lower class or classes 
to be wholly employed in reading and spelling. 

5. Particular attention was to be given in the upper class to punctua- 
tion, " that in reading they may be taught to observe the Stops and points, 
notes of affection and interrogation, accenting and Emphasising." 

6. The upper class " should be initiated into the principals of English 
Grammer, and for this purpose, those Eulcs which are contained in our 



456 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

English Spelling Books should he marked loj the Master," and a lesson 
^ required daily. 

7. The second class were each to bring one or more answers daily " out 
of such Catechisms as shall be directed by their Parents or Guardians. 

8. A uniformity of books was to be required. If the parent or guar- 
dian was unable to purchase, the selectmen were directed to provide the 
books. 

9. The schoolswere to be " opened in the morning, and closed in the 
evening by the school master with an Act of Eeligion, reading a portion 
of the Bible every morning, accompanied with an Address to Grod in Prayer, 
and closing every evening with Prayer." 

10. Quarterly, or at least semi-annually, the master should appoint 
several of the senior class " to exhibit specimens of their acquirements in 
learning in the presence of the Committee at the time of their visiting the 
school, in a way of Public Speaking." 

11. That from May to September one hour in the forenoon, and the 
same in the afternoon, be specially " appro j)riated for the instruction of 
the young Misses or Females ; that of consequence the Common School be 
dismissed daily for such a period, at 1 1 oclk, in the forenoon, & a like 
hour in the afternoon," to give time for that purpose. 

12. The master was recommended to consider himself as in the place of 
a parent to the children under his care, and endeavor to convince them by 
mild treatment that he felt a parental affection for them ; that he be spar- 
ing as to threatenings, or promises, but punctual in the execution of the 
one, and the performance of the other; that he never make dismission 
from school at an earlier hour than usual, a reward for attention or dili- 
gence, but endeavor to lead them to consider being at school a privilege, and 
dismission from it as a punishment ; that he never strike the children on 
the head, either with the hand or any instrument, nor allow one scholar 
to inflict corporeal punishment on another ; that when circumstances 
admit, he suspend inflicting punishment until some time after the offence 
is committed ; that as far as it is practicable, he exclude corporeal punish- 
ment from the school, and particularly, that he never inflict it on females ; 
that he introduce such rewards as are adapted to stimulate the "ingenaus 
passions" of the children ; and that he inculcate upon the scholars the 
propriety of good behavior during their absence from school. 

13. Saturdays, in the forenoon, the master was to instruct his scholars 
in some catechism, and address them on moral and religious subjects, 
endeavoring to impress upon their minds " a sense of the being and Provi- 
dence of God, and the obligations they are under to Love Serve and to 



HISTORY 01" HAVERHILL. 457 

pray to liim ; their duty to tlieir Parents and masters ; the Beauty and 
■excellence of truth, justice,* and mutual Love; tenderness to Brute Crea- 
tures, and the sinfulness of tormenting them, and wantingly destroying 
their Lives ; the happy tendency of Sdf-Grovernment, and Obedience to 
the dictates of Eeason, and Eeligion; the duty which they owe their 
Country, and the Necessity of a Strict Obedience to its Laws ; and that 
he Caution them against the prevailing Vices, such as Sabbath Breaking, 
profane cursing and Swearing, Gaming, Idleness, Writing obscene Words 
on the Fences, &c." 

Large as has been the progress and improvement in our school system 
since these first regulations were framed, we can hardly claim an advance 
on the two last rules. They cover the whole ground, and scarce leave 
room for improvement. 

In 1791, the town voted to send an additional Eepresentative to the 
General Court, provided it should not be any expense to the town. Sam- 
uel Blodgett was chosen ; and we have it from tradition that at the next 
annual town meeting he counted out the money he received for the service, 
and laid it upon the table, refusing to retain a penny. 

A proposition having been made for building a bridge across the Merri- 
mack, at Deer Island, this town and Salisbury remonstrated strongly 
against it. One objection made was, that the piers would lessen the tide 
up the river ! The committee of this town say that there was not more 
than nine feet of water over the shoals in common tides, and they feared 
it would be greatly lessened if the proposed bridge should be built. 

At a town meeting, December 12th, (1791,) a j^roposition was made to 
divide the town into school districts, and a committee of twelve were 
chosen for the purpose, Samuel Walker, Chairman. At an adjourned 
meeting, December 2Gth, the committee reported a recommendation that 
each of the four parishes be erected into a distinct school district, with 
full power to build school houses, employ teachers, raise money to pay for 
the same, and to subdivide the parish into smaller school districts ad- 
libitum. If any parish neglected to provide a school, according to the 
law, the selectmen were, directed to do it, and assess the district for the 
expenses. The report was adopted. 

The occasion of this action of the town was a legislative act passed in 
June 1789, entitled "An act to provide for the instruction of youth, and 
for the promotion of good Education." By this act, towns were authorized 
to determine the limits of school districts, and districts thus erected were 
authorized to assess a tax to support a " schoolmaster," &c. 
58 



458 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL 

From the above report, we learn, that " in the Western part of the 
Town, a number of School Houses have lately been erected, at their own 
expense." 

At the next annual meeting, the selectmen, the clergj-men, and seven 
other persons were made a committee to inspect the schools in the town.=~= 
At an adjourned meeting, it was voted, that school district No. 1 should 
have one or more school-houses ; No. 2, four ; No. 3, three ; and No. 4, 
one. £350 were appropriated for building new school-houses. 

The same year (1792) the town was divided into nineteen highway 
districts. A petition was received for a highway from Thomas "Whittier's 
(now J. B. Spiller's) in a direct line to Muliken's ferry, but it was decided 
to be inexpedient.! At the same time, it was ordered that the "plain 
gate " (that near Eev. Mr. Keely's," on the bank of the river) be kept in 
repair, so that the river's bank might be used as " a bridle way." 

Among the petitions presented to the selectmen this year, we find one 
signed by Samuel Blodgett and eighteen of the principal citizens of the 
village, praying that a town meeting may be called to see if the town 
" would permit Innoculation to take place in said town provided a conven- 
ient place can be procured for that purpose in said Town." The reason 
offered was, that the small pox was in the town of Boston, and other 
adjacent towns, and that " a great number of the Inhabitants of the Town 
of Haverhill are determined to go from thence to Boston to receive the 
same by Innoculation unless they are permitted to be Innoculated in 
their own Town." 

A meeting was called, but the town refused to repair the jiest-house, or 
to allow innoculation to be performed in the town. As a consequence, 
many persons went to Boston for that purpose. In November, another 
meeting was called, and it was voteci to provide a hospital for innoculation 
in the town. A few weeks later it was voted not to allow the thing to be 
done in the town. 

In 1793, President Washington issued a proclamation to the people of 
the United States, recommending that during the then existing war in 
Europe, they should preserve a strict neutrality. On the reception of the 
proclamation in this town, a town meeting was called, and resolutions 
adopted approving the course of the President, and agreeing to abide by 
Ms recommendations. 

o One year still later, a committee was chosen for each school district; and this continued to be the 
practice for many years. 

t The portion between Mr. Spiller's and " Tilton's Corner," was finally laid out about 1835. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 459 

On tlie 6 th of September, of the above year, occurred an event of no 
Small importance in the town. This was no less than the publication of a 
newspaper, -—the first ever printed in the town. It was " published by 
E Ladd & S Bragg," and styled the Guardian of Freedom. It was issued 
weekly, at " nine shillings per annum," and edited by Benjamin Edes, Jr." 
It advocated federal politics^ 

Cotemporancous with the first stage coach and the first newspaper, was 
the erection of the first bridge across the Merrimack, in this town. The 
Haverhill bridge was completed in the fall of 179-t.f It was erected on 
three arches of one hundred and eighty feet each, supported by three 
handsome stone piers forty feet square. It had as many defensive piers, 
or sterlings,^extending fifty feet above, and a draw of thirty feet over the 
channel. It was built on the plan of Timothy Palmer. Moody Spofford, 
of Georgetown, was the chief engineer in its erection. Palmer was an 
a.pprentice to Spofford when he made his invention. 

At the time of its erection, the bridge was considered a marvel of 
mechanical ingenuity and skill ; and to this day, though divested of much 
of its beautiful proportion, it is surpassed by but few in the country. 

Dr. Dwight, who saw it in 179G, thus describes it:| 

" The strength of the Haverhill bridge may be conjectured from the 
following fact. Six gentlemen placed themselves together upon an exact 
model of one of the arches, ten feet in length ; in which the largest pieces 
of timber were half an inch square, and the rest smaller in proportion. 
Yet not the least injury was done to the model. Of this fact I was a 
witness ; and was informed by the gentlemen present, that eleven persons 
had, a few days before, stood together upon the same model, with no other 
■effect, than compacting it more firmly together. The eleven were supposed 
to weigh at least sixteen hundred pounds. No bridge which I have ever 
seen, except that over the Piscataqua, can be compared with this, as a fine 
object to the eye. The arches above, and below, have a degree of boldness 
and grandeur, unrivalled in this country. Every part of the work is 
executed with exactness and strength on the one hand, and on the other 
with great neatness and beauty. "When we saw it, it was new, perfectly 
white, and brilliant, without that dullness which springs from the decays 
of time.§ 

* For a more particular account of this paper, see " Newspapers," in tlie Appendix. 

t Soon as it was passable, Judith Whiting, then in her hundredth year, walked over it unaided. The 
old lady died soon after, wanting twelve days to complete a century. 

X Dwight's Travels. 

§ In a note to the above, Dr. Dwight adds, — " In the year 1812, 1 found the arched work of this 
bridge above taken down, and with it a large proportion of its fine appearance gone." 



460 mSTORY OF nATERniLI, 

I have since learned, that it is too nicely built, and has suffered some 
decay by the retention of water in the joints, and elsewhere. 

It was long doubted whether a bridge could be so constructed, as to 
resist the ice of the Merrimack. The stream is rapid ; and the climate so 
cold, as to produce, annually, thick and firm ice. But the doubt has van- 
ished. Seven bridges have been built on this stream : and not one of 
them has been carried away. The defensive piers have proved an effectual 
secui-ity against this evil. These are formed in the figure of a half pyra- 
mid ; the base a semi-rhombus ; and are strongly fortified with iron. 
When the ice descends in large floats against this pier ; it rises on the 
oblique front ; and breaking by its own weight, easily passes between the 
principal piers ; and is thus rendered harmless." ^ 

Dr. S]3offord, the veteran editor of the Haverhill Gazette, in that paper 
of March 2d, 1860, gives the following interesting reminiscences of 
Haverhill in 1794: — 

" Haverhill village at this time consisted of Merrimack, Water, and 
Main streets, and the only brick building in the village was part of Sheriff 
Bartlett's house, so long and so lately and so well occupied by Dr. Longley. 
A row of small wooden stores occujjied the river bank, above the bridge, 
in one of which David How, Esq., and in another, Moses Atwood, father 
of HaiTiet (Atwood) Newell, kept stores at that time. 

About this time a three-story brick store, perhaps sixty feet long, and 
forty feet deep, was built by Mr. Howe and Phineas Carleton, on the west 
side of Main street,"' of which Mr. How occupied what is now two stores, 
or about forty feet square, and Mr. Carleton twenty by forty, and from 
Mr. Carleton's store, which was the southerly one, it was vacant land to 
the corner. From the corner lot a house had been burnt some years before, 
belonging, we think, to Esquire White,! ^ citizen long well known, and 
possibly yet remembered by some in Haverhill. 

Those who have the curiosity to ascertain which of the stores now in 
that range was once owned and occupied by Phineas Carleton, may know 
how much land on Main and Merrimack streets was permitted to lay 
vacant after a fire, till it was covered with mouldering ruins and tall 
weeds. 

The old First Parish, and the .Baptist churches then furnished ample 
accommodations, though a much larger portion of the people then were 
constant attendants at church than at present. 

o The block now occupied by John Davis, Willett <t Co., and others, 
t Samuel White, Esq. , 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 461 

Mr. Shaw preached at the Congregational, and Mr Smith at the Baptist 
church. Mrs. Shaw was a Smith, and sister of the wife of President John 
Adams. AVc can just recollect hearing of the sudden death of Mr. Shaw, 
in connection with which an anecdote was current many years ago ; that 
Hex. Stephen Peabody, of Atkinson, had started that morning, upon the 
recommendation of Mr. and Mrs. Shaw, to make proposals to a lady in 
Newbury said to resemble Mrs. Shaw, but meeting the news of Mr. Shaw's 
death, turned short about, and after waiting due time, made proposals and 
married the widow ! 

At the opening of the Andover and Haverhill railroad, now the Boston 
and Maine, a celebration was held, and a collation was given, and speeches 
made, in the Haverhill Academy Hall, at which, among many good things 
said, Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, of Salem, a native of Haverhill, gave a 
humorous description of the excitement here, when a four horse stage was 
set up, from this town to Concord ; how the boys collected to view the 
unaccustomed sight, and listening to hear the bells with which the horses 
were ornamented, by the time they got to " McFarland's," ran to meet 
them far up on the plains." 

Dr. Dwight, who visited the town about this time, thus speaks of it : 

"The manners of the inhabitants, in general, are very civil, and be- 
coming. Those of the most respectable people are plain, frank, easy and 
unaffected. Both the gentlemen and ladies are well-bred, and intelligent ; 
and reccommend themselves not a little to the esteem, and attachment of 
a traveller. We saw at the Church a numerou^^ongregation, well dressed, 
decorous and reverential in their deportment." 

" I was informed by unquestionable authority, that in a small lake in 
this town, about half a mile east of the Congregational Church, and at a 
little distance from the river, there is an island, which has immemorially 
floated from one shore to another, whenever it was impelled by a violent 
wind. Lately it has adhered for a considerable time to a single spot ; and 
may perhaps be so firmly fixed on the shelving bottom, as to move no more 
hereafter. Several trees, and, shrubs, grow on its surface ; and it is cov- 
ered with a fresh verdure." 

That the Doctor's authority was " unquestionable," may be safely 
judged from the following extract from a communication received by the 
writer, a few weeks since, (1860) from John Bartlett, Esq., of Eox- 
bury : — - ' 

° To Mr. Eartktt, (who is a son of Israel Bartlett, of this town,) we arc greatly indebted for numerous 
favors received while engaged in compiling this history. His kind efforts in our behalf will not soon be 
forgotten. 



462 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

" As it respects the floating island, or islands formerly seen in Little or 
Plug Pond ; the fact must be "well remembered b}-^ many of the older men 
of Haverhill village, Mr. Robt. Willis, Mr. Phineas Carleton, Mr. Hazen 
Morse, •' and others. According to my recollection there were two islands ; 
the smallest had a maple tree on it of two or three inches diameter ; this 
was broken up and destroyed long before the larger one, which continued 
for years, and at last grounded when the pond was full, at the east end un- 
der the hill, where no wind could reach, to drive it off; as the water fell, 
the island became rooted to the gi-ound ; when the water rose, the next 
season it flooded the island, and it soon broke up. I should say that the 
larger island was 60 feet long by 15 or 20 broad; on the borders were 
bushes, such as formerly grew, standing in the water at the western end 
of the pond. The island was composed of a soggy mass of fine vegetable 
matter, of sufiScient firmness to sustain the boys who were frequently on 
it ; they would sink down a few inches, the water oozing up around their 
feet. 

" As you will see, I have scratched out a sort of Diagram of the pond, 
by no means accurate, but it will show you, however, the difi'erent posi- 
tions, where I have seen the larger of the two islands ; many a time have 
I been on it and gathered cranberries ; and when it was situated at the 
entrance towards the Plug, where it stood for a whole season, I frequented 
it for the purpose of fishing, from its outer side, from an opening in the 
bushes. I have marked the spot on the diagram, thus (2) . Mr, Hazen 
Morse will remember bein^on the island while it lay there. As the inner 
edge of the island did not come to dry land, the boys placed some rails to 
assist in getting on and off. In 1827 I saw the rudiment of a new island 
afloat at the east end of the pond ; it was perhaps 6 or 7 feet long ; what 
became of it I don't know — some bushes were on it. So much for the 
rioating Island."! 

Believing it would add to the interest of Mr. Bartlett's pleasant sketch 
of these islands, we have procured the following engraving, showing the 
positions of the larger island as seen by him at vari- 
ous times. Figure " 1 " indicates a place where Mr. 
Bartlett remembers to have seen the island; "2" 
indicates the place where the island remained an en- 
tire season, during which time Mr. Bartlett, and 
others, fished from its outer edge. Figure "3" 
shows where the island finally grounded, and was broken up. 

o Mr. Morse confirms the statements of Mr. Bartlett, and distinctly remembers fishing from the edg« 
of the floating island, 
t Mr. Bartlett adds, in a note, — "The larger island became extinct, I think, about the year 1800," 




HISTORY OF HATERHILL. 463 

As a fitting accompaniment to fixe above interesting reminiscenses of 
Haverhill in the last century, we give the following extract, from " The 
American Gazetteer," by Jedidiah Morse, D.D., printed in Boston, 1797 : 

Haverhill, a handsome post-town of Massachusetts, in Essex County, 
situated on the N. side of Merrimack Eiver, across which is an elegant 
bridge, connecting this town with Bradford, 650 feet long and 34 wide. 
It has 3 arches of 180 feet each, supported by 3 handsome stone piers, 40 
feet square ; also a draw of 30 feet, over the channel of the river. Haver- 
hill has a considerable inland trade, lying about 32 miles N. by W. of 
Boston, and 1 2 miles from ISTewburyport, at the mouth of th^ river, and 
about 28 S. W. of Portsmouth in New-Hampshire. It lies chiefly 
upon two streets ; the principal of which runs parallel with the river. 
Yessels of 100 tons burden can go up to it. Travellers are struck with 
the pleasantness of the situation ; and a number of neat and well finished 
houses give it an air of elegance. Here are two churches, one for Congre- 
gationalists, and one for Baptists ; 3 distilleries, one of which has lately 
undergone a laudable transmutation into a brewery. Some vessels are 
annually built here, and several are employed in the "West India trade. 
A manufactory of sail-cloth was begun here in 1789, and is said to be in 
a promising way. The trade of the place, however, is considerably less 
than before the revolution. The whole township contains 330 houses, and 
2,408 inhabitants."- 

In 1795, by order of the General Court, the selectmen caused a plan of 
the town to be taken for the State. The surveys were made by James C. 
McFarland, and Josiah Xoyes. According to their report, the town con- 
tained fourteen thousand acres, including ponds and roads. " Great Pond " 
is put down as covering three hundred acres; "Creek Pond " the same; 
" Little Pond " eighty acres ; and " Ayer's Pond " seventy acres. The 
island in the Pdver is marked fifty acres. Eussell's Perry, (now " Chain 
Ferry,") and Cottle's Perry, were the only ones then in use in the town.f 
Little River was then called " West Eiver." 

In the spring of 1796, the inhabitants of the town were startled by the 
frequency of incendiarism. So serious did the matter become, that a town 
meeting was held ; a reward of three hundred dollars ofi'ered for the dis- 

" By the preface, we find that the Census is taken from the official enumeration of 1790. 

t Swett's ferry, at the Rocks, had just been superseded by Merrimack Bridge, which was completed 
the same fall. This bridge was one thousand feet in length, and was the longest over the Merrimack. It 
had four arches, a draw, and was supported by five piers and two abutments. There was but little travel 
over the bridge, and the proprietors snftered it to fall to decay. It was swept away by the ice in 1818. 
The present bridge at that place was built in 1828. 



4G4: HISTORY OF HAYERHILL. 

covery of the offenders, and a watch ordered to be kept. These vigorous 
measures had the desired effect, and we hear of no more like depredations. 

May 2d, of the same year, a meeting was held to see what the town 
would do in relation to the withholding of supplies by the national House 
of Representatives, so as to render it impossible for the President to carry' 
into effect the treaty with Great Britain. Bailey Bartlett was chosen to 
draft a memorial to the above body, which was adopted by the town, 
signed by four hundred and eight inhabitants of the town, of more than 
twenty-one years of age, and sent to Congress. The memorial strongly 
urges upon»the honorable body the impoitance and duty of faithfully car- 
rying into effect all the provisions of the treaty, that the federal govern- 
ment might not be embarrassed, or weakened, and the honor of the United 
States, as a young Eepublic, might be well established. 

In the summer of this year, a " malignant fever " made its appearance 
in several towns in the vicinity, and carried off large numbers. In August 
it visited this town, and spread alarm and terror throughout its whole 
length and breadth. A town meeting was called, and a committee of 
thirteen chosen to take measures to prevent its further introduction into 
the town. Baily Bartlett was chairman. Fortunately, the measures 
adopted proved successful in staying the progress of the disease, and but 
few of the inhabitants were numbered among its victims. 

In the fall of the above year, the town ordered a stone pound to be 
built. It was set on the site now occupied by the house of A. B. Jaques, 
Esq., Main Street, and was demolished about the year 1850, when the 
present wooden structure, on Dow Street, was erected in its place. The 
first pound-keeper was Deacon Samuel Ames. 

From the report of the committee chosen to settle with the town officers 
for the year ending March, 1798, we learn that the indebtedness of the 
town at that time was $2,350,00. For the first time in the history of 
the town, the committee recommended specific appropriations for the cur- 
rent year. Their recommendations were adopted. =•= 

The first written school report made to the town, was by Eev. Hezekiah 
Smith, this year (1798). Mr. Smith was chairman of the school commit- 
tee for the 1st District. 

In the early days of the Eepublic, it was a common custom for towns 
to discuss the affairs of the nation in their town meetings, and approve or 

° Fourteen hundred dollars was appropriated for the support of the poor; one thousand dollars toward 
the cxlintpiishnient of the town debt ; one thousand dollars for hiijhwaj-s ; and six hundred dollars for 
schools. The Belectmen were ordered to hold regular monthly meetings ; a new set of town books were 
procured, and a new plan for keeping the town accounts agreed to. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 465 

disapprove of public acts and measures with entire freedom. The follow- 
ing address from this town to the President, — John Adams, — is an 
illustration : — 

" While we disapprove of an interference of the people with the admin- 
istration of our National Grovcrnment, we consider it our duty, at this 
time, to assure you thaf the measures you have adopted and pursued as 
first Magistrate of the Union, have uniformly met our hearty concurrence. 
In full confidence that those measures have been dictated by wisdom, and 
the purest principles of patriotism, we cannot withhold the expression of 
our grateful thanks for your undeviating firmness in their execution — 
your late exertions to redress our wrongs — to accommodate differences 
unhappily existing between this country and the French Kepublic — to 
conciliate the affections of our Allies — -to preserve our neutrality — to 
establish our peace and happiness — and above all to support the indepen- 
dence, dignity, and freedom of the United States, afford the highest 
evidence of the justice and wisdom of your administration; and demands 
in an eminent degree, the gratitude of every patriotic citizen. 

" We humbly deprecate the calamities of war — but when the safety, 
the independence, the freedom of our country require, under the directions 
of the Government of our choice, imploring a blessing from heaven, we are 
prepared, with our property and at the hazard of our lives, to support our 
Government, to vindicate our rights, and to defend our country." 

This letter was transmitted to Hon. Bailey Bartlett, then Eepresentative 
to Congress, and by him to the President.' The following is the President's 
reply : — 

" To the inhabitants of the town of Haverhill in the State of Massa- 
chusetts. 

" Gentlsmen : — I thank you for a respectable and affectionate address, 
Vhich has been presented to me by Mr. Bartlett, your Eepresentative in 
Congress, 

" The interference of the people with the administration of the National 
Government, in ordinary cases, would be, not only useless and unnecessary, 
but very inconvenient and expensive to them, if not calculated to disturb 
the. public councils with prejudices, passions, local views, and partial 
interests, which would better be at rest. But there are some great con- 
junctions in which it is proper, and in such a government as ours, perhaps 
necessary. If ever such an occasion can occur, the present is one. 

" Your assurance to me that the measures I have adopted as first Mag- 
istrate of the Union, have uniformly met your hearty concurrence ; and 
59 



466 



HISTORY OF HAYERIIILI, 



your declaration that you are prepared with your property, and at the 
hazard of your lives, to support your Government, vindicate your rights, 
and defend your country, are to me a great consolation. 

"John Adam?. 

" Philadelphia, June 6, '98." 

The following table, showing the number and valuation of the dwelling 
houses in Haverhill, in 1798, with the name of each owner, and occupant, 
wc have prepared from the official returns, and believe it to be well worth 
a place in a history of the town : — 

Housckolders in HaverJdll, 1798.'' 
" General List of all Dwell'mg Houses, which with the Out Houses 
appurtenant thereto, and the Lots, on which the same are erected, not 
exceeding two Acres in any Case, were owned, possessed or occupied on 
the 1st day of October 1798, within the Assessment District No 1 in the 
3d Division of the State of Massachusetts, exceeding in value the sum of 
One Hundred Dollars." 



Names of Reputed Omicrs. 

Ayer Samuel 
Ayer James 
1 — Abbot Abigail 

Appleton Daniel 
2 — Appleton Daniel 
3 — Appleton Daniel 
Ayer John A 
Ajer Nathan 
Ayer James 
Atwood Moses 
. f Atwood Moses ) 
( Harris Abial ) 
Atwood Joseph 
Abbot Abial 
Ayer Moses 
Ayer Obadiah ) 
Ayer James | 
Ayer Jonathan 
5 — Ayer Peter 
6 — Ayer Jonathan 
Ayer John 
Ayer Peter Jun 
Ayer Simen 
Adams Phineas 
Ayer Peter 



Valufifion 
iu Doll's. 

200 

190 7 

5ri0 

1200 
450 

200 8 
400 
850 
200 
850 

1000 
600 
— 9 
400 

375 

200 
120 
140 
220 
600 
600 

350 



Valaation 
iu Doll's 

380 
GOO 
150 
180 
105 



Names of Eepnted On-ners, 

Bradley Samuel 

— Bartlett Enos 

^ Brown John 
Bradbury Samuel 
Brown Edmund 

— Brown Edmund, adminis- 
trator 150 
Blodgett Samxiel £00 
Brickett James ) , ^^^ 
Brickett Daniel j 
Bernard Sarah 350 
Bartlet Bailey 200O 
Bartlett Israel 950 

—Bartlett Israel 350 

Bradley Nathaniel 1000 

Bradley Peter 550 

Bi'adley Francis 200 

Bradley Joseph 275 

^^jBradleyMehitable) ^^^ 

( Bradley Joseph j 

Bailey Nathan 350 

Brooks B Gotten 800 

11— Burrell Joseph 400 

Ballard Ebenezer 120 

Bailey Nathaniel 200 



° III those cftscs where the owner is not the occupant, we have prefixed numerals, rcfcrrini 
oflluwios, where will be found the name of the occupant of the bouse. 



; to the list 



EISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 



467 



14 



■Names of Eepnted Owners. 

12— Bartlet Bailey 

Bradley Benjamiu 

13 — Bradley Benjamin 
Bryant AVilliam 
Brickct Barnard 
Bricket John 
Bradley Daniel ) 
Cook Benjamin j 
Bradley David 
Bailey Benjamin 
Bailey Jonathan 
Bailey Woodbridge 
Bradley Isaac 
Bailey Nathan, Jnn 
f Bacheler William ) 
(Putnam Ebenezer j 
Bradley Enoch 
Cops Simeon 
Chase Daniel 
Chase Daniel, Jun 
Carr Francis 

15 — Carr Francis 
Chase Anthony 
Chase Woodman 
Chase Joseph. 
Chase John 
Chase Leonard 
Chase Josiali 
Chase Ephraim 
Chase William 
Colby Ephraim 

1&— Colby Elizabeth 
Currier Rubin 

17 — Carr Francis 
Cottle William 
Cottle Thomas 
Carleton Enos 
Clements Samuel 
Clements Moses ) 
Clements Amos j 
Cogswell John 
Cogswell Thomas 
Chase Amos 
Carleton Phineas 
Carleton Kimbal 
Carleton Jonathan 
Carleton Micah 



Valnation 
iu Doll's 

400 
400 
150 
175 
200 
200 

700 

350 
130 
350 
260 
280 
105 

260 

400 
300 
ISO 
310 
900 
180 
230 
130 
210 
150 
110 
120 
120 
230 
110 
150 
130 
400 
150 
140 
170 
■200 

400 

600 
350 
500 
900 
950 
250 
250 



Names of Reputed Owners. 

Chamberlin William 
Chickering John 

18 — Chadwic James 

19 — Cawlis John 
Carleton Aaron 
Clements John 
Clements Benjamin 
Clark Nathaniel 
Corliss Swadock John 
Chase James 
Corliss Ephraim 
Corliss John 

20— Carleton Kimball 
Currier Jonathan 
Davis Amos 
Davis James 
Duncan James 
Dodge Joseph 

21— Dustin & Treet 
Dusten David } 
Dustin Nathaniel j 
Dusten Thomas 
Ela Jacob 
Elliot EpTii-aim 
Elliot Thomas 
Ela Jonathan 

22— Elliot Ephraim 

Easterbrooks Hannah 
Emery Ephraim 
Emerson Nehemiah 

23 — Emerson Nehemiah 
Emerson Susannah 
Eames Samuel 

2 4 — Eastman Ephraim 
Eaton Joseph 
Eaton Amos 
Emery John 
Emerson Ethemore 

25 — Eaton Eebecchah 
Emerson Abraham 
Emerson Moses, Jur 
Eaton Timothy, Jur 
Emerson Daniel 
Emerson Josiah 
Emerson John 
Eaton Phineas 
Eaton Timothy 



Valnfition 
in Doirs 

750 

700 
450 
500 
250 
175 
450 
ISO 
200 
200 
700 
350 
450 
320 

leo 

290 

1400 

900 

250 

150 

150 
290 
450 
460 
ISO 
110 
250 
600 
400 
SOO 
150 
400 
450 
350 
250 
£00 
SOO 
320 
200 
230 
140 
ISO 
ISO 
220 
200 
400 



463 



HISTORY OF HATEKHIII,. 



200 



« . -,, . 1 ^ Vftlnation 

Names of Kcputed Oiniera. jjj jy^Wg 

Emery Moses 320 

McFarland Moses 250 

26 — Grecnleaf Dorothy 700 

George Amos 400 

George Louis 140 

George Austin 140 

Greeley Joseph 220 

Grover Joseph 1 20 

Gay Joseph 125 

Gale Moses 1200 

27— Gale Moses 300 

28— Gale Moses 400 

Greenleaf ^Tilliam 1400 

Gage Thomas 300 

Gage Ebenezer 400 

Greenough, Sally & Betsy 400 

Gutridge Barnard 500 

29 — Green John 200 

( Gilc Amos ) 

( Gilc James | 

George Eichard 150 

Goodridge John 180 

Greenleaf Caleb 110 

30— Greenleaf Abel 250 

31 — Greenleaf Ebenezer 200 

Gilc John 260 

Hunliin Jonathan 190 

Hunkin David 125 

How David 2000 

Heseltine James ' 300 

Harrod Joseph 1000 

Haddock James 150 

Haynes Thomas 150 

Hale Ezekiel 400 

Huse John 300 

32— Hill 150 

33— Heseltine 200 

Hubbard David 340 

Heseltine John 110 

34«_Hoyt Moses 200 

Heseltine Ladd 180 

Haynes Joseph 300 

How Isaac 540 

Ingals Henry 400 

Johnson Thomas 180 

Johnson Nathaniel 150 

Johnson John 140 



600 



Names of Itepnttd Owners. jjj poU'a 

Johnson Benjamin 180 

Johnson John, Jut 180 

Johnson Elias 310 

Kelley Josenh 300 

Kimbal Cotton 450 

Kimball David 300 
Kinrick John } 
Haddock Delilah ) 

Kinrick Abner 200 

Kent Justin 550 

Kimball Solomon 350 

Kimball Moses 200 

Kezer Timothy 125 

Kimbal Eichard 600 

Kimbal Jonathan 200 

Kimball Benjamin 250 

35 — Kimbal Benjamin 150 

36— Kimbal James 200 

Ladd Nathaniel 300 

Low Hannah £50 

Ladd Dudley 200 

37 — Lamson ^\m. (Heirs of) 300 

Moody" Moses 800 

38— Moody Moses 110 

Morse Henry IGO 

39— Morse Henry 290 

Morse Oliver 200 

Mansise Hannah 1200 

Mansise Simon 1300 

Moors Benjamin 400 

Moors Jonathan 200 

40— Mash David 700 

Mash Enoch 500 

41— Mash Nathaniel 300 

Mash Moses 500 

Mash Moses, Jur 500 

Mash David, Jur 250 

]\Ic hard James 900 

42— Moody Abigail 150 

MuUin Eobert 175 

Mash Cutting 425 

Merrill Gyles — 

Merrill Samuel 500 
Merrill Samuel, Jur 150 

Nichols Phineas 500 

Nichols Dorothy 160 

Noyes Eollonsbee 200 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



m 



43. 



44- 



45. 



46- 
47 
48 
49 



Names of Reputed Owners, 

Nichols Jacob 
Ordway Benjamin 
Osgood Abigail 
Osgood Peter 
Ordway Benjamin 
Ordway Edward 
Pike James 
Page Caleb 
Page John Chapman 
Poyn Joseph 
Page Joshua 
Putnam Oliver 
Plumer Asa 
Plumer Thomas 
Poor John 
Pettingall Matthew 
Pecker Euth 
Peabody Joseph, Jur 
Page Dorcas ) 
Page Susannah ) 
Pettingall Jedediah 
— Pecker Euth 
Piobinson Joseph 
Eollins John 
— Eunnils Hannah 
Eussel John 
Eogers Hannah 
Serjant Elias 
Sanders Samuel 
Swan Francis 
— Serjant Mary 
Sawyer Joshua 
Serjant Mary 
Salistall Nathaniel 
Souther Samuel 
Swett Abraham 
Smiley William 
Smith Hezekiah 
— Smith Hezekiah 
— Smith Hezekiah 
— Smith Hezekiah 
— Smith Hezekiah 
Souther Jonathan 
Simons Sarah 
Simson James 
Southrege William 
Solay Nathaniel 



Valnatjon 
in Doll's 


Nnmes of Reputed Oirnen. 


Vnlnation 
in Doll's 


500 


Swett Abial 


250 


170 

1800 


KQ 1 Straw ) 

( Johnson Susannah j 


120 


1000 


Smiley Mary 


200 


275 


Sawyer William 


300 


200 


Simmons Nchemiah 


150 


120 


Straw Sherbon 


125 


140 


Swasey Moses 


150 


120 


Smith Walker 


200 


650 


Smith John 


250 


150 


Silver Daniel 


200 


550 


Stevens Ephraim 


ISO 


250 


Tyler Job 


180 


500 


Tompkins Isaac 


— 


125 


Tucker Ichabod 


500 


125 


51— Tindle Niles 


250 


500 


r Joseph 




300 


Whittier - John 


200 


300 


(Moses 
Walker Nathaniel 


320 


loO 


52— Walker Samuel 


200 


200 


White Samuel 


600 


ISO 


White Samuel, Jur 


150 


250 


White John 


2600 


900 


White Leonard 


700 


400 


53— White John 


1000 


200 


Willis Benjamin 


800 


180 


54 — Willis Benjamin 


200 


135 


West Henry ") 
West Mary | 


1200 


200 


450 


Whittier Thomas 


300 


250 


Wells David 


300 


1000 


Woodbury Hannah 


1500 


3000 


Weed Joshua 


500 


850 


Winn David 


150 


1000 


Whitting John 


125 


250 


Wyman Jacob 


150 


— 


Walker Samuel ) 
Walker Nathaniel J 


800 


900 


500 


Watson George 


600 


300 


Whittiker William 


300 


200 


Whittiker Peter 


200 


150 


Webster Jonathan 


125 


175 


West Henry 


375 


200 


Webster Moses 


420 


300 


55— White Samuel 


200 


125 


Webster Joshua 


150 



470 



HISTORY OP HATERHUL. 



Names of Reputed Owners. 

Webster Moses, Jur 
56 — "Webster Joseph 

Webster Stephen 3d 
Webster Stephen 4th 

Signed 



May 6, 1799 

Karnes of Occupants. 

1 — James Walker 
o f Hannah Appleton 

( Hannah Osgood 
3— Eliphallet liuck 
4 — John Johnson 
5 — James Smiley 
6 — John White 
7 — Francis Bartlett 
8 — John Brown, Jur 
9 — Coffin Dean Harris 
„ f Mehi table Bradley 

I Elij^halet Noyes 
, j Joseph Buvrell 

I Susannah Millican 
p I John Kimball 
"^ \ Sarah Greenleaf 
3 — Joseph Bradly, Jur 
4 — William Bacheler 
» ( David Bradbry 
^ I Nathaniel Bartlett 
6 — Barnaby Tyler 
„ I William Little 

( Samuel Bradley 
8 — Caleb Lebosquet 
^ ( Nathaniel Fitz 
'^ (John Silver 

5 George W Hills 
David Gleson 
Nathaniel Carvcr(?) 
21 — Nathaniel Mayhew 
22 — Joseph Lake 
23 — Amos Sawj^er 
24— William F Fry 
n» f Rebekah Eaton 
"^^ I Elijah Eaton 
26 — Zebulun Ingersoll 



Valnntion 
in Doll's 

3G0 

2G0 

200 
300 



Names of Reputed Owners. 

AVebster Isaac 
Webster David 
Webster Caleb 



Taluatlon 
in Doll's 

290 
500 
350 



Webster Stephen, Jur 500 
Nathel Marsh Principal Assessor 
Moses Moody "^ 

Samel Walker J Assistant 

Enoch Bradley )■ Assessors 

William Russ I 4th Assessors District 



Stephen "Barker 



3d Division. 



28 



29 



Names of Occupants, 

27 — Benjamin Chase 

j Daniel Adams 

I David Webb 

( John Green 

( Moses Green 
30 — Oliver Martin 
3 1 — John Russell 
32 — Oliver Foster 
33 — James Heseltine 
34 — Stephen Corliss 
35 — John Downing 
36 — Nehemiah Emerson 
37 — Moses Mash, Jur 
38— Samuel Clark 
39 — David Morse 
40 — James Duncan. Jur 
41 — Jeremiah Stickney 
, r) f Abigail Moody 
■^ ( Moses Moody 
43 — Daniel Pecker 

f Hannah Runniels 

( Silas Plumer 
45 — Amos Serjant 
46 — Jonathan Smith 
47 — David Morse 
48 — Asaph Kendall 
49 — Daniel Bradbury 

( William Smith 

( Straw 

51— Westly Balch 
52 — William Edwards 
53 — Benjamin Willis, Jur 
54 — Samuel Blanchard 
55 — John Downing 
-„ J John Webster 

I Stephen Webster. 



44 



50 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. " 471 



CHAPTER XXV. 

1800 TO 1815. 



The opening of the year 1800, found tbewtole American people in 
mourning for the loss of their beloved AVashington." Never was a mor- 
tal man more beloved ; never had a free people greater cause for tears. 
"First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen," 
the sudden death of Washington overshadowed and made trifling all other 
Borrows ; and from the one end of the Union to the other, was seen the 
" mournful procession," and was heard the solemn dirge, and the soul- 
moving eulogy. 

In these public manifestations of sorrow, this town took a prominent 
part. The record of January 9th informs us that a meeting of the town 
was held on that day, "at the request of James Brickett, and others," to 
see if the town would take measures to notice in an appropriate manner 
the death of AVashington. It was decided to set apart February 22d, 
(the birth-day anniversary of AVashington,) as the most fitting time for 
that purpose, and a committee of twelve were chosen " to determine in 
what manner it should be done." On the day appointed, the inhabitants 
assembled in the old meeting-house on the common, where an eloquent 
eulogy was delivered by Eev. Abiel Abbot, and AVashington's Farewell 
Address was publicly read. After the services at the meeting-house, the 
town again met, passed a vote of thanks to the orator for his eloquent 
production, and ordered copies of it to be printed, together with " the 
Invaluable last address of President AA'ashington," and distributed to each 
family in the town. 

The first notice we find in the records, or elsewhere, of a proposition to "H , 
supply the village with water by means of an acqueduct, is in 1798, when I ^/ 
the town's Eepresentative, Nathaniel Marsh, was instructed "to oppose \ 
Osgood's petition for an Acqueduct " to take water from " the Pound 
Pond." The next we hear of it, is in 1801, wlien Benjamin AA^illis, Jr., 
Nathan Ayer, Samuel AA'alker, Jonathan Souther, and Jesse Harding, 
petitioned the toivn " for leave to conduct the water by means of an 
acqueduct from the round pond, so-called, into this part of the town, for 

o George Washington died December 14, 1799. 



472 HISTOBY OF HAVERHILL. 

private and public convenience." The petition was referred to a commit- 
tee, of whicli Bailey Bartlett was chairman, who reported that leave ought 
to be granted such a company, provided that subscription books for the 
stock were open for all who chose to take a share ; that no one should be 
allowed to take more than one share until ninety days after the book was 
opened — at the end of which time the remaining shares might be taken 
by any of the subscribers ; and that the rules and regulations of the com- 
pany be offered to the town for their approbation. 

The company was organized the same year, under a general law of the 
State. The water was at first, and for many years, conducted in wooden 
pipes, exclusively. "Within the last fifteen years, the works have been 
greatly extended, and the old logs have given place to pipes of cast iron. 
The works are now among the best in New England. The pond being fed 
entirely by springs from the bottom, =•■■= the water is remarkably pure and 
sweet ; and, if properly economized, the supply will probably be suffi- 
cient for the reasonable wants of a population of twenty thousand. The 
cost of the works thus far, has been nearly $100,000. 

In 1801, the town again chose five selectmen, instead of three, as they 
had done for the fifty-one years previous ; three assessors ; and five over- 
seers of the poor. This was the first time the latter had been chosen since 
1734 ; and the first time in the history of the town that assessors had been 
chosen as a separate board of officers. From this time forward, the three 
offices have been kept entirely distinct, and regularly filled. In 1S06, the 
number of selectmen was again reduced to three, and has so remained to 
the present time. 

Some idea of the importance attached to the office of school committee, 
at this time, may be judged from the fact that the committee for the 1st 
district consisted of twenty-two persons ; that of the 2d of eleven ; and 
the 3d and 4th, of eight each. 

This year, twelve "Fish Wardens" were chosen, — the first officers of 
the kind in town, — for the purpose of regulating the fisheries in the town, 
and seeing that the fish courses were not obstructed so as to interfei-e with 
the free passage of the fish up the streams into the ponds. The alewive 
fisheries had now become quite an important business, so much so, that the 
next year (1802) the town petitioned the General Court to pass laws reg- 
ulating it. They declare the present mode of catching the fish to be very 
destructive, and that but little advantage accrued to the inhabitants from 

o There is not a single living brook, — not even of the smallest kind, — running into this beantiful 
pond ; and, except a small place at the north-west corner, the bottom of the whole pond is a clean gravel. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 473 

it. They also asked that the exclusive right to the fisheries within its 
limits might be given to the town. The prayer of the petition was 
granted. 

The first part of the month of January, 1802, was so mild, that on the 
24th of that month, the ice in the river moved with the tide. But little 
snow fell until the 22d of February, after which great quantities fell, and 
the weather was exceedingly cold. In March, Bailey Bartlett, and others, 
"went to Ipswich on the crust of the snow, over all the fences, in a double 
slay."" 

This year, for the first time, we find that a list of the voters in the town 
was made out, and accepted ; f and a list of names for jurymen submitted 
to the town for approval, by the selectmen. 

From the Haverhill Observer of July 9, 1802, we learn that " several 
gentlemen " celebrated the anniversary of American Independence, in 
this town, "by a dinner at Lieut Bradley's Tavern, followed by a number 
of toasts."! This is the first mention we find of such a celebration in the 
town, and we learn from tradition that it was about this time that the 
first one was had. 

Among the many note- worthy events of this year, may also be men- 
tioned the organization of a Lodge of Freemasons in the town, — a more 
particular account of which will be found in another place. 

In 1803, Ward Eaton, and others, petitioned the town for liberty to 
erect Hay Scales, — which was granted. The fee fixed upon by the town 
for weighing hay, was one and one-fourth cents per one hundred pounds, 
for all over six hundred pounds ; and eight cents per load for all less than 
six hundred pounds. The scales were located on the northerly side of 
Winter Street, opposite the foot of Pleasant Street, where they remained 
until about 184 — , when they were removed to their present site, — imme- 
diately adjoining the town pump, on the northerly side. 

'■^ Bartlett's Journal. 

t It would seem as if such a list must have been regularly kept long before this, but the above is the 
first mention we find of such a thing in the town records. 

t " Nat Bradley's Tavern " stood on the lot next north-west of the present South Church, and was at 
that time the principal stage house in the village. Landlord Bradley was one of the handsomest and 
most popular hosts in all the region round about. Weighing about 250 lbs.; very neat and particular in 
his dress ; which was always close up with the fashion ; lively, social, gentlemanly ; he always appeared 
to feel well himself, and had the happy tact of making all with whom he came in contact share in his 
good humor. After his death, the tavern was for many years kept by Moody Chase. In 182-, the house 
was removed to the north-west corner of Winter and Pleasant streets, where it is still occupied as a 
dwelling house, by Wm. Smiley, Esq. 

60 



474 HISTORY OF HAVERHILl. 

In May, of tLe above year, a mail stage commenced running "between 
Haverhill and Newburyport, and has continued its regular trips until the 
present time. 

The committee chosen to settle with the selectmen, overseers, and town 
treasurer, for 1803, recommended that in future, an •'annual finance 
statement " should be made to the town at its March meetings, which was 
agreed to, and since that time such a statement has been regularly made, 
and a committee chosen annually to audit the accounts of these of&cers, 
and make their report to the next succeeding annual March meeting. 

In 1804, the Fourth of July was first j-jr/W/c/y observed in this town as 
a National Anniversary, and was celebrated in a most enthusiastic and 
patriotic manner. The militia, under Captain Huse, paraded the streets 
with fife and drum ; a collation was served up on the " parade ground ;=■' 
and a splendid dinner provided at " Harrod's Hotel," followed by patriotic 
toasts. This appears to have been the first public celebration of Indepen- 
dence Day in the town. We learn, from tradition, that the inhabitants of 
that part of the East Parish near the old meeting-house, feeling hardly 
able to join in the celebration "up town," got up one on their own hook, 
at Mr. Woodman Chase's. Their bill of fare, to which each family con- 
tributed, in the genuine pic-nic style, included one whole roast pig, and 
turtle soup.f The principal families at the Hocks joined in the up-town 
celebration. 

In The Observer, for the same month, (July) we find an advertisement 
of Slater & Co., Kehoboth, Mass., to the efi"ect that they had appointed 
an agent in this town to sell their "cotton yarn." A few weeks later, 
(August) Ezekiel Hale informs the public, through the same channel, that 
he has established " a Cotton Yarn Manufactory " in this town, and oflfers 
the yarn for sale "to those who wish to make their own cotton cloth." 
From this it will be seen that the manufacture of cotton yarn in this town 
was nearly cotemporaneous with its first manufacture in the country. The 
same may also be said of duck, potash, and of the wholesale manufacture 
of shoes. From the same paper, we learn that, in October of the above 
year, the making of " cut nails " was commenced in the town, by Sawyer 
& Cross, " at their shop a few rods east of Bradley's Tavern." They 
were also blacksmiths. 

In October, of the same year, on petition of Bailey Bartlett, and others, 
a committee Avas chosen, of which Mr. Bartlett was chairman, to draft a 

* The parade ground wns in the rear of the old meeting-house, on the common, 

t Made from a large turtle caught by Daniel Johnson, who personally superintended the preparation of 
the soap. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 475 

code of By-Laws for tlie town. At an adjourned meeting, lield in Decem- 
ber, the committee reported the following code, which were adopted. They 
were the first code of by-laws adopted by the town. AVe copy them from 
the Haverhill Museum, of March 5 th, 1805, (Vol. 1, No, 14) : — 

BY-LAWS 

FOR THE 

TOWN OF HAVEEHILL, 

In the County of Essex, and Commonwealth of JIassachiisetts. 

Passed at a meeting of the Inhabitants, Dec. 10, 1804, and approved by 

the Court of Common Pleas. 



Sec. 1. It is ordered, That no person or persons shall presume to make any 
bonfires, or set on fire any wood, straw, shavings, or other combustible 
matter, by night or by day, in any street, lane or alley, or in any public or 
private yard in the compact part of this town, under the penalty of forfeit- 
ing and paying the sum of one dollar. 

Sec. 2. It is ordered, That no person or persons shall carry fire from 
any house or place to any other house or place, in the compact part of this 
town, except in some vessel sufficiently covered to secure the fire from 
being driven about by the wind, or scattered by the way, under the pen- 
alty of forfeiting and paying a sum riot exceeding one dollar, nor less than 
fifty cents. And it is further ordered, That no person or persons shall 
presume to smoke any pipe or segar or have or use any pipe or segar while 
on fire, in any street or lane in this town, under the penalty of forfeiting 
and paying a sum not exceeding fifty cents, nor less than twenty-five 
cents. 

Sec. 3. It is ordered, That the Selectmen, on complaint being made to 
them, or any one of them, or upon their own knowledge of any defective 
chimney or hearth in this town, shall cause the same to be duly examined, 
and repaired, if it can be done conveniently, or otherwise to be taken 
down and demolished ; and the owner or owners of such chimney or chim- 
nies, if they neglect to take them down and repair the same, for the term 
of one week after an order of the Selectmen (duly certified by the Town- 
Clerk and entered on the town book) has been served on him her or them 
shall forfeit and pay the sum of three dollars. And the Selectmen, for the 
time being, shall have full power and authority, and they are hereby re- 
quired to order and direct the same chimney or chimnies to be repaired or 
taken down and abated as a common nuisance ; and the owner or owners of 



476 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

Buch chimney or cbimnies shall pay and satisfy the whole expense and 
charges of abating such nuisances, to be recovered as the other penalties. 

Sec. 4. It is ordered, That if any chimney shall take fire through foul- 
ness, and blaze out at the top, except when it rains or snows, or when the 
houses are covered with snow, the owner or owners of the house, to which 
such chimney belongs, shall forfeit and pay the sum of one dollar : Pro- 
vided nevertheless, that no person shall be subject to this penalty, who has 
caused his chimney to be swept or fired, for the purpose of cleaning the 
same, within two months from the time of its taking fire as aforesaid. 
And it is further ordered. That no person shall fire his or her chimney, 
for the purpose aforesaid, except in a calm time, or when it shall actually 
rain or snow, and between the time of sun-rising and twelve o'clock at 
noon, under the penalty of forfeiting and paying the sum of one dollar. 

Sec. 5. It is ordered, That no person or persons shall hereafter project 
any stove funnel through the top or side of any wooden building, unless 
the same be securely suiTOunded by brick work or iron ; and no stove 
shall be placed in any store, or other building, without a double hearth 
under the same, under the penalty of forfeiting and paying the sum of 
two dollars for the first ofi"ence, and the sum of one dollar for every week, 
so long as such offence shall continue, after being duly notified by the 
Selectmen or any officer of police. 

Sec. 6. It is ordered, That no cooper, within this town, shall fire or 
burn any cask in any shop, warehouse, or other place than in a sufficient 
brick or stone chimney, made safe and convenient for that purpose, on 
pain of forfeiting and paying the sum of one dollar for each oflfence. 

Sec. 7. It is ordered, That no person shall, on any pretense, carry a 
lighted candle or lamp into any barn or stable in this town, unless in 
a good secure lanthorn, on pain of forfeiting and paying the sum of one 
dollar for each and every such oflFense. A7id it is furt/ier ordered, That 
no person shall smoke, have, or use any lighted segar or pipe, in any barn 
or stable, or within the yard of any barn or stable, in this town, on pen- 
alty of forfeiting and paying the sum of fifty cents for each and every 
such offense. 

Sec. 8. It is ordered, That for the future no person or persons shall 
keep in their dwelling house, shop, or store, within the limits of this town, 
jjiOYC than twenty-five pounds of gun-powder, (which quantity shall be 
kept in a tin or copper cannistcr, with a secure top) on penalty of paying 
five dollars for each offence. 

Sec. 9. It is ordered, That no person shall place and leave, or cause to 
be placed and left, in any street or lane in this town, any wood, bark. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 477 

timber, boards, shingles, clapboards, scantling, shavings, stones, bricks, 
casks, tubs, crates, boxes, dirt, or any kind of rubbish, or other articles, 
in such a manner as to obstruct the passage of carriages in the public way, 
for the space of two hours, on penalty of forfeiting and paying the sum of 
fifty cents for each and every such offence, and the like penalty for every 
twelve hours after the owner has been notified by the Selectmen or Inspec- 
tor of Police to remove the same. Provided nevertheless, that any person 
wishing to repair any building, adjoining any street or highway in this 
town, may give notice to the Selectmen of such intention, who shall set off 
and allot such portion of the street or highway adjoining thereto as they 
shall judge necessary, leaving in all parts, if possible, sufficient room for 
carts and carriages to pass notwithstanding ; and such person may lay and 
leave, in the place alloted as aforesaid, all the materials necessary for such 
building, and shall not be liable to the above forfeiture therefor, during 
such reasonable time as may be necessary for erecting or repairing said 
building. 

Sec. 10. Whereas great inconvenience and hazard are occasioned by 
loads of wood, butchers' carts, and other carts and waggons, standing in 
and obstructing the streets and public ways in this town : to prevent which 
in future. It is ordered, That some suitable person or persons be annually 
appointed in public town meeting, whose duty it shall be to prevent all 
such obstructions, and see that a free passage be constantly kept open in 
the streets and ways aforesaid; and whoever shall offend against this 
regulation, by continuing either of the aforementioned obstructions in the 
streets or ways aforesaid, after being notified and directed to remove 
the same by either of the persons appointed as aforesaid, shall forfeit and 
pay the sum of fifty cents, to be recovered by complaint on oath to any 
Justice of the Peace within this county. 

Sec. 11. It is ordered, That no horse or horse kind shall be turned out 
loose, or suffered to go at large, or to go to water, without a suitable per- 
son to lead him, within the compact part of this town, under the penalty 
of paying the sum of twenty-five cents for each and every such offence. 

Sec. 12. It is ordered. That no person, except the militia on muster 
days, while under arms, and by command of their officers, shall fire any 
gun, pistol, squib, cracker, or other thing, charged in whole or in part with 
gun-powder, in any of the streets, lanes, or public ways in the compact 
part of this town, or so near the same as to affright any horse, or in any 
way to affright, injure or annoy any person whatever, on penalty of for- 
feiting and paying the sum of twenty-five cents. 



478 HISTORY or haverhill. 

Sec. 13. It is ordered. That no person or persons shall climb behind 
any chaise or other carriage, passing in this town, without the consent of 
the owner, on penalty of forfeiting and paying the sum of twenty-five 
cents for each offence. * 

Sec. 14. It is ordered, That no person shall, in any street, lane, or 
alley, or other public place, or near any dwelling house in this town, be 
guilty of rude, indecent, or disorderly conduct, or insult or wantonly im- 
pede any passenger, or sing or repeat any lewd, obscene, or profane songs, 
or write or cause to be written any obscene words on any fence, wall, or 
other building, or speak, utter, or repeat any lewd, obscene, or profane 
words, or wantonly injure and deface any fence, wall, or other buildings, 
or any sign-post or sign, by cutting, scratching, or daubing the same with 
paint or other matter, or wantonly cut or injure any tree standing in the 
streets or highways of this town, or rob any garden of fruit or vegetables, 
or injure any trees, shrubs, or bushes growing in such garden, or without 
permission from the owner climb on or over the fences thereof, or aid, 
abet, or advise the commission of any of the aforesaid acts, under the pen- 
alty of forfeiting and paying a sum not exceeding two dollars, nor less 
than twenty-five cents, to be recovered by a complaint on oath to some 
Justice of the Peace in this county. 

Sec. 15. It is ordered, That hereafter no vaults, vats, cisterns, cellars, 
or wells shall be left open, unless the same be enclosed by a sufiicient 
fence, curb, or guard, on penalty of paying fifty cents for the first week, 
and fifty cents for every week it shall remain open, after being notified by 
the Selectmen or officer of police to inclose or cover the same. 

Sec. 16. It is ordered. That proper persons, of good moral characters, 
shall be annually appointed by a vote of the town, to inspect and inform 
of the breach of any of these orders or by-laws, this day here voted 
and ordered ; and the persons so appointed shall be called the Inspectors 
of the Police. 

Sec. 17. It is ordered, That parents, guardians, and masters shall be 
deemed accountable for all penalties and forfeitures which their children, 
wards, apprentices, or servants shall or may forfeit, by any of the fore- 
going regulations. 

Sec. 18. It is ordered, That it shall be the duty of the Inspectors to 
cause all these by-laws and orders to be strictly complied with, and 
to prosecute for all penalties arising under them, either from their own 
knowledge or fi'om information given them by others 

Sec. 1 9. It is hereby voted and ordered. That all and every the fine and 
fines, for any breach or breaches of these town orders or by-laws, except- 



HISTORY OP HAVERHIH. 479 

ing as "before provided, may be recovered by action of debt, before any 
Justice of the Peace in this county, by any Inspector or Inspectors of the 
Police, or any of the Selectmen of the town ; one half to go to and for 
the use of the poor of the town, and the other half to the Inspector or 
other person who shall prosecute for the same. And such prosecution 
shall be commenced within three months from the commission of the 
offense, and not afterwards. — To prevent all dispute concerning the com- 
pact part of this town, it is hereby ordered, that the limits thereof shall 
be co-extensive with the bounds of the first parish. 

Among the town officers chosen in 1805, we find seven "Inspectors of 
Police." The overseers of the poor were this year, for the first time, 
voted compensation for their services as such ; four ounces of powder were 
voted to each soldier annually for use on muster days ; and a powder 
house was ordered to be built."' The latter was a small brick structure, 
about eight feet square, and was placed on the north side of " Powder 
House Lane," (now called "White Street, between Portland and Hun- 
tington Streets,) and will be remembered by many of our readers. It 
was removed about 1845, when the present one, on Golden Hill, was 
erected. 

The town seem to have had a decided hostility to the erection of any 
bridges below them, as we find that they remonstrated against the erection 
of everyone of them. This year, (1805) their Eepresentative was in- 
structed to oppose the petition for the Plum Island bridge. Their great 
objection was, that such a bridge would hinder the passage of boats going 
to and from the salt marshes for hay. Two years later, they remonstrated 
against the building of a bridge at Amesbury Ferry, and also against 
" shortening the arch" of the bridge at Andover. 

The 24th of May, 1807, will long be remembered in the history of 
Haverhill, as the day on which occurred one of those sudden and terrible 
catastrophes which now and then cast their dark shadows over a whole 
community. 

On Saturday, the 23d, a brig was launched at one of the yards in the 
village, and a party of the men employed in the yard assisted in getting 
it down the river. They were returning the next day, in a scow, in the 

o In 1794, when a war with France seemed imminent, the town voted to each non-commissioned officer 
and soldier who should enlist, if called into actual service, enough to make their pay eight dollars per 
month. In ISOl, the town's stock of military supplies consisted of two narrow-axes, four pick-axes, one 
hundred pounds powder, fifteen gun-locks, two hundred and fifty pounds leaden balls, and six hundred 
and twenty-six flints. In 1809, the stock of powder was hut thirty-three pounds. 



480 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

midst of one of the most violent north-east storms ever known on the river, 
and when a short distance above the Rocks' Bridge, the boat run un- 
der and capsized, and six out of the eleven in it were drowned. Their 
names were Matthew Pettingill, Samuel Blanchard, John Foss, William 
Hoyt, Benjamin Cole, and Joshua Weed, and all were heads of families. 
Mr. Cole was found the same day ; four were found the next Saturday, 
and on the Sunday following, the body of Mr. Weed was- taken up. They 
were all brought into the village and buried on the Sabbath, the first four 
in the forenoon and Mr. Weed in the afternoon. It was suiely a solemn 
day. The names of the survivors were Moses Kimball, Joseph Kimball, 
Joseph Wells, Nathaniel Soley, and Nicholas Colby. After the boat cap- 
sized, Colby, who was a good swimmer, succeeded in getting these four 
upon the bottom of the scow, which barely kept afloat. He tried hard to 
save Hoyt, who clung to him, while beneath the surface, with a death 
grasp, but finding his strength rapidly failing, he was obliged to exert his 
whole remaining force in tearing himself from the drowning man ; and, 
having nearly exhausted himself in his eiforts, Colby endeavored to per- 
suade Moses Kimball, who could swim, to swim ashore and find help, as 
it was evident the wreck could not long be kept afloat. But Kimball's 
brother positively forbid his making the attempt. Finding all entreaty 
unavailing, Colby at length resolved to make the attempt himself, though 
scarce expecting to be able to reach the land, and bidding them good-bye, 
he struck out for the shore. John Ingersoll, of the Kocks'Tillage, a 
young man lately returned from sea, observing the severity of the storm, 
and having a curiosity to see its effect upon the river, was that morning 
walking along the shore, when he came suddenly upon a man feebly cling- 
ing to a rock near the water's edge. It was Colby, too much exhausted to 
drag himself out of the water, or even to speak aloud. With gi'cat diffi- 
culty, the brave man explained the perilous situation of his companions. 
Ingersoll immediately ran to the village below, gave the alarm, and, after 
trying in vain to induce some one to assist him in the attempt, embarked 
alone in a small skiff, and after great peril succeeded in finding and sav- 
ing the four persons on the wreck ! Surely the names of Nicholas Colby 
and John Ingersoll well deserve an honorable place in our history. They 
have it, and may their noble example never be forgotten by their posterity. 
Up to this time, (ISOS) with the exceptions already noticed, the poor 
of the town had been supported in families, though from time to time in- 
vestigations were made to ascertain whether that was the most economical 
plan for the town. From a report made in 1801, it appears that ten per- 
sons were wholly supported by the town, and several others assisted. The 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 481 

cost of supporting the former varied from fifty cents to one dollar and 
seventeen cents per week. The total expenses for the poor that year was 
eight hundred and twelve dollars. In 1808, a committee was chosen " to 
devise some diiferent method of supporting the poor." The result was, 
that they were " let out to Ezekiel Hale," and he was voted "Master of 
the Work House." The selectmen were then made overseers of the poor. 
Under this plan, the expenses run up to $1,540,35, the same year; and 
at the next annual meeting a separate board of overseers were again chosen 
and the manner in which the poor should be supported, whether " by keep- 
ing them together, or otherwise," was left with the overseers. For a few 
years after this, they were kept together in a house hired for that purpose, 
but in 1814, the plan was given up, the "Poor House Stock & Utensils," 
(valued at $50) were sold, and the old plan of boarding them in private 
families was again resumed. 

At a town meeting in September, 1808, a committee was chosen to 
draft a "respectful petition to the President of the United States, praying 
him to suspend a part or the whole of the Embargo Act." The President 
replied, under date of September 21st. 

As early as January, 1805, a bill was passed by Congress, forbidding, 
under severe penalties, armed vessels to leave the United States. The 
policy of the government was to maintain peace by avoiding collisions, 
rather than by asserting rights ; but finally, measures were adopted with 
a view to punish the agressors ; which in their practical effects, did more 
damage to the commerce of the Eastern States than all the confiscations of 
England and the continental powers combined. The first of these meas- 
ures was the Embargo Act, in 1807, by which vessels were forbidden to 
go to any foreign port whatever. For contravention of this act, the own- 
ers and shippers were liable to a suit for double the value of the vessel 
and cargo, and the master to a fine of not less than $1000 for every 
offence ; and his oath was henceforth inadmissible before any collector of 
the United States. Thus both the export and import trade were killed at 
one blow. 

Against this highly oppressive act, Haverhill, and many other towns, 
memorialized, and with such effect, that in March, 1809, the embargo was 
repealed, though all trade and intercourse with France and England were 
interdicted. 

The year 1808 seems to have been selected for a general rebuilding 
and repairing of bridges in the town. The Haverhill Bridge was rebuilt 
this year. Instead of three, it was rebuilt with four arches, supported 
61 



482 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

by three massive stone piers, the stones of which are firmly fastened with 
iron. The draw, which should have been continued over the channel, was 
placed close to the Haverhill shore, and reduced to twenty-eight feet in 
width, — a circumstance now much regretted, and likely to call for some 
change ere many years. But few bridges can compare with this for dura- 
bility, or strength. The immense masses of ice that are annually borne 
down the river with tremendous force, have no other effect upon the noble 
structure than to cause a slight tremulous motion. 

Little Eiver bridge was also rebuilt this year, and several others, at an 
expense to the town of more than $2,000. ••= 

In 1809, the right to fish in the several streams in the town, were sold 
at vendue, and this continued to be annually done so long as the privileges 
were worth purchasing, f 

The following, which we copy from the Merrimack Intelligencer, of this 
place, under date of July 22, 1809, shows that weather was as un- 
manageable fifty years ago, as at present : — 

" Eain. — We believe the oldest person living never knew two such severe 
storms, in the month of July, as we have witnessed these two weeks past. 
In consequence of the great rains that have fallen, our river has already 
risen to an unusual height, and still continues j;ising ; and we apprehend 
much injury may be done in the country, especially as it happened at a 
season when the farmer most needs the warm influences of the sun." 

The wai'rants for the annual town meetings at this time run " to such 
as pay one single tax besides the poll or polls assessed, equal to two-thirds 
of a single poll tax ; " and for the meetings to choose Eepresentatives, 
&c., they were directed to all male inhabitants of twenty-one years old 
and upwards, possessing a freehold estate of an annual income of at least 
three pounds, or any estate of the value of sixty pounds. 

At the annual meeting in 1810, the train-band applied to the town to 
increase their allowance of powder, for muster days, but the town seems 
to have considered four ounces a sufficient amount for such sport, and re- 
fused to increase it. 

The Haverhill Light Infantry was organized on the 26th of May, and 
Jesse Harding was elected Captain. One of the articles of its constitution 

o Little Eiver bridge cost $1,827.49 ; and Creek Bridge $346.84. The town debt, in March, 1809, was 
$1,431.12. 

t In 1814, there were four privileges sold, viz. : — atEzekiel Hale's bridge, at Thomas Dnston's meadow, 
at Enoch Bradley's mill-pond, and a privilege near John Carleton, Jr.'s. The total amount paid for 
them was fifty-four dollars. It was a part of the contract that the town's people were to be supplied for 
their own use, at twenty-five cents per hundred. In 1815, the privileges sold for $91.35; in 1816, $46.25 ; 
in 1817, $36.25 ; in 1820, $21.33. 



BISTORT OP HAVERHILL. 483 

directed tliat, if any of its members should be removed by death, bis body 
should be consigned to the grave with military honors. On the 6th of May, 
1823, an elegant standard was presented to the Company by the ladies of 
the village, through the hands of Miss Polly Dow, accompanied with a 
pertinent address. 

Mirick, in speaking of the company in 1832, says : -^ " There are but 
few independent Companies in the Commonwealth whose military conduct 
is more praiseworthy, and whose evolutions are more correct. The Com- 
pany is furnished with tents and every other necessary requisite for a 
fatigue march. In 1831, it established an armory, at an expense of over 
five hundred dollars ; and the accoutrements are there kept in the neatest 
and most perfect order." 

The armory referred to was located in the fourth story of the Bannister 
Block, directly over the Essex Banner office. The company disbanded in 
1841. Their successors, the " Hale Gruards," fully sustain the high mili- 
tary reputation of the town.'-* 

The ship-building business of the town appears to have reached its high- 
est point this year. Nine vessels were built, which is the largest number 
built in any one year, so far as we can learn. 

In August, a stage commenced running between Haverhill and Salem, 
making two trips per week. Morse & Fox were the px'oprietors. This 
line continued to run until the opening of direct railroad communication 
between the two places. 

At a meeting called for that purpose, in 1811, a petition was received 
from David Chase, and others, to allow Thomas Johnson " to take water 
out of the Great Pond, so-called, to said Johnson's Mill," but the request 
was not acted upon. The proposition was to tap the pond at its north- 
easterly point, -— a short distance east of the Kenoza House. 

On the 8th of May, of the same year, a Bradford seine caught seven 
hundred and fifty-five shad, at one haul, which was said to have been the 
greatest haul for the forty years previous. It is almost, if not quite, 
within the bounds of truth to say, that the above number is nearly as 
many as one of our seines now average for a whole season. 

In the Merrimack Intelligencer, of February, 1812, we find the follow- 
interesting item : — 

" The Kussian Brick Stoves have recently been introduced in Salem, 
and promise to make a great saving in the important article of fuel. A 

° Since the above was written, tiie company have dropped the first part of their name, and are now 
known simply as " The Guards." 



484 HISTORY OF IIAVEEHILI, 

handsome one has been built in the Essex Bank, two in a meeting house^ 
and others in private buildings. They were introduced by Capt Towne^ 
from Revel." 

The introduction of the above kind of stoves seems to have directed 
attention to the importance of improvement in the prevalent modes of 
heating buildings, and we find that it was not long before the inventions 
of ingenious Yankees completely eclipsed the uncouth Eussian apparatus, 
in every respect. The introduction of cast-iron stoves for simple warming 
purposes, was soon followed by stoves designed not only for warming dwel- 
lings, but for cooking purposes. The latter were at first rather expensive 
luxuries, and could only be afforded by the most wealthy people. The 
first cooking stove in the East Parish, was purchased by Dr. Weld ; the 
second by Colonel John Johnson. They cost ^75 each, and though not 
very large, were each a good lift for four men. Cooking stoves could 
hardly be said to have been common, until about- 1830. 

The first musical society in the town, of which we can find any mentioU;^ 
was organized in April, 1812, J. Hovey, Secretary. It was called the 
" Haverhill Musical Society," and its object was stated to be "to improve 
in Sacred Music."-'' The first singing-school appears to have been kept 
by Samuel W. Ayer, in the old first parish school-house, commencing in 
December of the same year.-}- 

The year 1813 opened with the gloomy pi'ospect of a second war^with 
England. Continued depredations upon our commerce, impressment of 
American seamen, and insults to our flag, had forced home the unwelcome 
conviction that our honor requii-ed a resort to arms. 

On the 4th of April, CongTcss passed a ninety days embargo act, and 
vigorous measures were adopted to protect our national rights. In May^ 
a recruiting rendezvous was opened in this town, at Greenleaf's Tavern, 
and " men of Patriotism, Courage, and Enterprise," were called upon ta 
enlist in the United States service. On the 19th of June, war was for- 
mally declared. Though there was a strong feeling of opposition to the 
war, our town seems to have considered it their duty to sustain the gen- 
eral government in the matter, and at a meeting called a few weeks later, 
(July 20) it was voted to give -such of the inhabitants as should enlist, 
while in actual service, ten dollars per month, including the wages allowed 
by the general government. How many persons enlisted in this town, we 
are unable to say, but the number was quite large, f 

o The Society was in existence in 1814, and perhaps later. 

t Ayer kept in the same place the next year. 

J The Massachusetts Muster Rolls, for the War of 1813, are now at Washington. The Secretary of the 
Commonwealth has, however, been instructed to take measures to have them returned, and we hope that 
they will ere long be again deposited in our State Archives. 



HISTORY OF HATERHH,!,. 485 

During the next two years, the war was prosecuted with varying suc- 
cess ; but in the summer of 1814, more vigorous measures were adopted. 

On the 25th of July, 1814, Colonel John Johnson (of East Haverhill) 
received orders to draft from his regiment--^ a sergeant, corporal, and thir- 
teen privates, to march to Newburyport immediately, armed and equipped, 
with blankets and three days provisions. The names of those drafted at 
this time from the three companies of regular militia in this town, we are 
not able to give. From the Light Infantry company, one person was 
drafted, James H. Duncan, who hired a substitute. This company had 
already voted, unanimously, to march with full ranks, whenever called 
upon. 

September 9 th, Colonel Johnson received the following orders : — 
"Brigade Orders 

Newbury Sept 9, 1814. 

Pursuant to General orders of the 6 th, and Division orders of this day, 
you will hold the regiment under your Command in constant readiness to 
march at a moment's warning, & every man must furnish himself with a 
good knapsack & Blankets, before Inspection. 

You will order the Company of Light Infantry belonging to your 
regiment,! to march immediately to Boston, completely armed and equip- 
ped. On their arrival at Boston, they will be furnished with rations. 

You will also order out your regiment for Inspection by Companies, on 
Tuesday, the 13 th inst, at 2 oclk P M, and all deficiencies must be imme- 
diately supplied. 

You will appoint regiment and order company alarm posts to be 

appointed where it has not already been done, and in all respects carry 

into execution the Division orders Inclosed. 

Pr order of Gen Stickney, 

T\ -J T> V J ) Brig Qr Master 
ColJohnson David Peabody | 2d B. 2d D. 

5th Eegt." 

The above orders were received on Saturday evening, (September 10th) 

and the members of the Light Infantry were immediately notified to 

assemble on the "Church green" at the close of the afternoon services the 

next day. They met accordingly, and decided to take carriages as far as 

CJiarlestown. Early on Monday morning, the company paraded with full 

ranks, and marched to the Bradford meeting-house, where they had car- 

* Colonel Johnson's regiment consisted of the companies of Infantry in Haverhill and Methuen, 
t The Haverhill Light Infantry. 



48G 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILI.. 



riages in waiting to convey them to Ctarlestown. On arriving at the lat- 
ter town, they immediately took up the line of march for South Boston, 
their place of destination. As the company passed up State Street, their 
fine martial bearing won the highest compliments from the crowds which 
lined the street, and cheers upon cheers greeted them. They received the 
credit of being the best disciplined volunteer company called out. 

Below we give the names of the officers and members of the company : 
" Company roll of Capt. Samuel W. Duncan's Company of Light In- 
fantry, in the fifth Kcgiment Second Brigade and Second Division. 

John Atwood "^ 
Frederic S. Ayer 1 ggj.gg„jjta 
Leonard Messor | ° 
Saml Gardner Jun j 



Samuel W. Duncan Capt, 
Kathan Burrell Lieut. 
Thos Newcomb Ensign, 
Nathaniel Emerson 
Joseph Coffin 
Saml M. Johnson 
Phineas Carleton-' 
William White 
Peter Smith 
Nathan Emerson 
Jere Stick ney 2d 
Ephraim E. Lake 
Ezekiel Hale Jr 
Samuel Hale 
Christopher Hale 
William Townsend 
Isaac Averill 



Musicians 

John Davis 
John Folansbee 
James H. Duncanf 
Henry Briggs 
Henry Emerson 
Bailey Bartlett Jr 
Thomas West Jr 
John Nesmith 
John Trumbull 
Calvin W. Howe 



Eufus P. Hovey 
Joseph Merrick 
William Swett 
Caleb S. Cushion 
Thomas M. Greenough 
Dudley Porter 3d 
Samuel Noyes 
Eleazer A. Porter 
Wm P. Loring 
Samuel Curwen. 



Andrew Frink 

During their stay in South Boston, the company were quartered in 
a brick house between the bridge and the "Heights." They remained 
in service until October 30th, when they marched home, arriving in Hav- 
erhill the next day. 

The same day that the Light Infantry marched for South Boston, a town 
meeting was held, and the town generously and patriotically voted to pur- 
chase arms and equipments for all those of the militia who should be 
ordered into actual service, and who were unable to purchase for them- 
selves. Surely we may be pardoned if we again point to the earnest, 
consistent, and never faltering devotion of our town to the work of 
achieving, and sustaining, our National Indej^endence. As at the first, so 
at the last, they were ready, at every call, to sacrifice their treasure and 
their lives, for their country's liberty and honor. Though, as we have 
said, many of its inhabitants condemned this second war with England, as 

° Carleton did not march with his company, but paid his fine. 

t Duncan having akeady been drafted, and furnished a substitute, did not march with his company. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 487 

uncalled for, and ill-advised ; and though towns all about it had passed, 
and were passing, resolutions of censure and disapproval ; yet no sooner 
had a call been made for soldiers, than the town met at a short twenty-four 
hours notice, and generously voted, in substance, that no marCs poverty 
shoidd bar his patriotism ! 

A few days after the Light Infantry were ordered out, an order came 
(September 19) for a detachment of the militia "to march instantly to 
Beverly." The following named immediately marched : — 

From the company of Captain Daniel Appleton, Jr., were 
John Chamberlin, Corporal George Cogswell Kobert W, Eaton. 

"William George Charles Pike 

From the company of Captain Amos Ordway, were 
Hazen Kimball, Sergt Thomas Wood John Simons. 

John Underbill, Corp Benjamin Mills 

From the company of Joseph "Webster 3d, were 
David Currier Sergt John Atwood Jonathan Corliss. 

Amos Wheler 

The most vigorous measures were adopted for the defence of our sea-coast. 
Alarm posts were established in every town, at which the companies were 
to assemble on the prospect of any immediate danger, and in case of an 
invasion, those nearest were to toll a bell ; on which the militia were to 
appear, perfectly armed and equipped. Many British armed vessels were 
from time to time seen hovering on the coast, and added not a little to the 
general excitement and alarm. 

The news of Napoleon's abdication, and the success of the allies, was 
soon after followed by the intelligence that a treaty of peace had been con- 
cluded between the United States and Great Britain,"' and caused great 
rejoicing among all classes. Business soon resumed its natural channels, 
and prosperity again smiled through the whole length and breadth of the 
land. 

That the news of the peace gladdened the hearts of the people of Hav- 
erhill, plainly appears from the following account of their celebration of 
the event. We copy it from the Merrimack Intelligencer, a newspaper 
published in town at the time. The celebration took place February 22d, 
1815: — 

" Celebration of the Peace. — On the 24:th of December last a 
Treaty of Peace between the United States and Great Britain was conclu- 
ded at Ghent, by the British and American Commissioners ; on the 28th 
of the same month it was ratified on the part of Great Britain, and on 

• The treaty was ratified by the President February 17, 1815. 



488 HISTORY OF HATERHILL. 

the 18th of the present month received the signature of the President 
of the U. States. His Proclamation announcing the complete ratification 
of the Treaty on both sides, reached this place on Tuesday, the 21st. This 
put to flight the fears and doubts which some had entertained, in regard 
to the reception the Treaty might meet with at Washington. 

The grateful tidings were welcomed by loud and repeated huzzas ; by 
the peal of bells and the thunder of Artillery and Musketry. The coun- 
tenances of our citizens were universally brightened with joy. Wednesday 
being the anniversary sally of that glorious day which gave to the Ameri- 
can people their political Saviour, was unanimously fixed upon for the 
purpose of commemorating the inexpressibly auspicious event which has 
so suddenly diffused a cheering light over the clouded aspect of our coxm- 
try. At sunrise bells and cannon began to speak our joy ; and excepting 
short intervals, continued their animating eloquence through the day. 
Flags were flying in different parts of the town, — the stores were gener- 
ally shut — and the inhabitants one and all, gave themselves to pleasure. 
At 10 o'clock a procession was formed at the Bridge, and arranged by the 
Marshals of the day. Majors Duncan, AYhite, and Harding, in the fol- 
lowing order : • 

First Marshal, 

Haverhill Light Infantry 

attended with a Band of Music, 

Magistrates of the Town, 

Justices of the Peace, 

Clergy, 

Military Officers, 

Marshal, 

Citizens, 

Marshal. 

The Procession having first moved through the street parallel to the 
river proceeded to the Eev. Mr. Dodge's Meeting House, where the Treaty 
of Peace was read to a crowded and attentive assembly, and the throne of 
Grace successively addressed, in a solemn and interesting manner, by the 
Eev. Mr. Dodge and the Eev. Mr. Bachelder, rendering thanksgiving and 
praise to the Almighty Director of human events that he had gi'aciously 
permitted our distressed country to repose from the tumult and horrors of 
war. 



mSTOET OS HATEHniliL. 489 

Tlie audience was gratified also with the performance of several pieces 
of music happily selected for the occasion. After religious services the 
procession returned to the bridge, where some diificult evolutions were 
handsomely performed, and a feu, de joie fired by the Light Infantry. 

In the evening the town exhibited one universal blaze of splendor. 
Almost every house and store in town, and the dwelling houses of Mr. 
Chadwick on the opposite side of the river were brightly illuminated. 

In many windows the lights were so disposed as to form distinct and 
beautiful figures. AVhere all was excellent it is difficult to discriminate ; 
but were we to decide, we should say that the houses of Major Duncan, 
Dr. Saltonstall, Sheriff Bartlett, and Hon. Leonard "NMiite, were particu- 
larly distinguished for their brilliancy and beauty. Numerous beautiful 
transparencies, with appropriate mottoes and decorations, were exhibited 
in various places. The streets were constantly thronged with people. 
During the evening, a highly illuminated structure having, for its base, a 
large arch bearing the inscription " Peace^' in large capitals, — and this 
arch surmounted by several small towers rising and diminishing to a point, 
— and from every part declaring in ' expressive silence ' the sentiments of 
the people, was borne through the streets, accompanied by a band of 
music. The lights were extinguished at nine o'clock, and the evening was 
closed with the display of fireworks from the Bridge." 
62 



490 HISTORY or HAVERHILL^ 



CHAPTER XXVL 
1815 TO 1840. 



A HISTORY of tte rise and progress of the shoe manufacturing business^ 
in this town, includes, to a very great extent, the history of tlie town 
itself, from the close of the war of 1812, until the present time. But as it 
seems most proper that we should consider this branch of our town's in- 
dustry by itself, we propose, in this and the next chapter, to make note 
only of such other matters as seem worthy of special mention in a work 
of this kind and extent ; and, in the chapter immediately following, give 
our attention exclusively to the business and business growth of the towrt 
during the period above mentioned. 

The Merrimack Intelligencer, for Februaiy — , 1815, notes the death of 
John Green, " the oldest man in town." 

In 1815, the " old Ferry Way " was laid out as a ptiblic town landing, 
about fourteen rods in width. The same year the East Parish central 
school district was erected, making in all seven school districts in the 
town, viz. : one each in the First and North Parishes, three in the West 
Parish, and two in the East Parish. The year previous, each district was 
required to choose a clerk, to keep a regular record of its proceedings. 

The large pile of buildings known as the Bannister Block, were erected 
this season. The two western stores were owned by David How, the next 
two by James Duncan, Esq., and the remainder by Wm. By Bannister, 
Esq., of Newbiiryport. The twenty inch brick walls, and massive floor 
timbers of these stores, present a striking contrast when compared with 
the light and elegant structures of more recent times. 

One ship, The Thorn, was launched this year. She had been sleeping 
on the stocks nearly all the time of the war. After the war, the only ves- 
sels built; in town, were those built at the yard above the bridge. Previous 
to the war, there were three ship-yards in the village in successful opera- 
tion, and a large number of persons were employed in the various branches 
of the business. David Webster built for many years in the yard nearly 
opposite the cemetery ; Barnard Goodridge in the yard where the house of 
the late Hon, Leonard White now stands ; and a Mr. Kendrick nearly 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 491 

opposite the foot of How Street. The last vessel built at the lower yard, 
was by Nicholas Colby, for Moses Gale, shortly before the war. The last 
one built just below the bridge, was TAe Thorn, launched in 1815, and 
which had been on the stocks for a long time. It was built by Mr. Good- 
ridge, who afterward took the yard above the bridge. From this time, 
until 1840, the last named yard was the only one in town, and during 
the most of that time was in active operation. From about 1835, the 
business was carried on by Captain William Caldwell, who built in that 
time five vessels. The last one built by him, (and which was the last one 
'in the town,) was the North Bend, measuring about four hundred tons, 
and launched November 19th, 1840." The last vessel built at Cottle's 
Creek, was probably the one built by Thomas Cottle, in 1752. The last 
built at the Eocks' Village, was about the year 1800, or perhaps a little 
earlier. 

Although but few vessels have been built in this town since the war of 
1812, large quantities of ship timber have, until within a few years, been 
annually sent from here to supply the yards of Salisbury, Newburyport, 
and other places. Small quantities continue to be annually sent down the 
river, but the supply is nearly exhausted, and the business must soon 
cease altogether. 

The 23d of September, 1815, will long be remembered for the violence 
of a gale since called the " September Gale." It commenced about nine 
o'clock in the morning, in this town, and continued till two in the after- 
noon. The air was filled with the limbs of trees, leaves, and a salt spray 
blown from the Ocean, which encrusted the east side of the buildings, and 
there remained for some days. The water in the river tasted extremely 
brackish ; and the east side of many trees which withstood tho fury of the 
gale, were killed with the salt spray, as is supposed. 

Many of our readers will doubtless recollect the vivid poetic description 
of this memorable gale, which appeared soon after. The following speci- 
men verses are all we can afi"ord room for in this place : — 
" It chanced to be our Washing Day ; — 

The clothes were all a drying ; 
The stormy winds came through the lines, 
And set 'em all a flying. 

I saw the shirts and petticoats 

Go riding off like witches ; 
That day I lost, — ah, how I wept — 

I lost — ni7/ Sundai/ breeches." 



* Capt. Caldwell was for many years one of our most active and enterprising business men. He died 
in January, \iiZ, aged 59. 



492 HISTORY 0-p nAVERniH. 

As early as 1797, the attention of the towns hordering on the Merri- 
mack was directed to the obstructions in the rirer, which interfered with 
its navigation above this village ; and a subscription was started for the 
purpose of rendering the river navigable for boats and rafts as far as Paw- 
tucket falls. Newburyport subscribed upwards of $1,200, and this town 
and others united in the project, but the full importance of the plan seems 
not to have been realized, and the scheme was abandoned. About the 
year 1815, the subject was again agitated, and it was proposed to cut a 
canal from Hunt's Falls (Pawtucket Falls) to the little Eiver in this 
town. The merchants of Newburyport and of this town took hold of the 
matter in earnest, and in May, 1816, an act of incorporation was obtained 
for a company, under the name of " Proprietors of an Association for 
Clearing and Locking the Falls in the river Merrimac." A survey was 
made by Laomi Baldwin, and it was found that there was only about 
forty to forty-two feet fall between the two points. The estimated cost 
was $240,000. A subscription was opened which finally reached about 
$130,000, and for several years the enterprise was pushed forward vigor- 
ously. But finding it impossible to raise the sum necessary by subscrip- 
tions, a proposition was made to establish a bank, and invest $100,000 of 
its capital in the proposed canal. For this purpose, application was made 
to the General Court, in 1826, for a charter, under the name of The Canal 
Bank ; but the Middlesex canal drew the favor of the Legislature from 
the object, and thus a large portion of the inland trade was diverted 
from its most natural channel, to build up Boston. Had the plan suc- 
ceeded, it was expected that Haverhill would have become a large manu- 
facturing city, and Newburyport a place of extensive commercial 
importance. 

The summers of 1816 and 1817 were unusually cold, and were followed 
by very early frosts, by which most of the small corn crop was destroyed.-' 

In the fall of 1816, a violent wind passed over some of the neighbor- 
ing towns, and over the westerly part of this. The house of Ladd 
Haseltine was demolished, and his son, Jonathan, was killed by the falling 
chimney. Some other buildings were also blown down, many others dam- 
aged, and fences and trees prostrated. 

In the spring of 1818, occurred one of the most remarkable freshets 
recorded in the history of the Merrimack towns. The snow had been 
suddenly melted by a violent rain, and the water rushed down the valley 

« A Mr. Walker, of Penehain, Vt., being lost in the woods on the 8th of June, and lying out through 
the night, was so severely frost bitten as to require the amputation of oue of his great toes ! 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 493 

of the Merrimack with the greatest fury, tearing tip the ice, which was 
nearly two feet thick, with the noise and convulsions of an earthquake. 
Driven into immense dams, the ice rolled and flew about in every possible 
direction. The river was raised twenty-one feet above common high water 
mark ; the country around inundated ; buildings were removed, and de- 
stroyed ; cattle and sheep drowned ; and ruin spread on every side. The 
noble bridge across the Merrimack at the Eocks' Village, became a total 
wreck, and its fragments were soon lost to sight in the angry and resist- 
less flood. The appalling sublimity of "the great freshet of 1818," will 
never be forgotton by those who witnessed its desolating march. 

In 1818, the town treasurer was made collector of taxes, and discounts 
were allowed for voluntary payments to him, similar to those made at the 
present time. After the taxes were made out and delivered to the treas- 
urer, he was to advertise the fact, and all who voluntarily paid their tax 
within thirty days, were allowed a discount of six per cent. ; those who 
paid within sixty days, were allowed four per cent. ; and on those paid 
within one hundred and twenty days, the discovmt was two per cent. 
Those not paid within one hundred and twenty days, were passed over to 
the collector, who was obliged to collect them within three months, or pay 
them himself. 

The same year. Pleasant Street was laid out; and "Pecker's Lane" 
widened. Winter Street was then known as " the back road to Hale's 
Mills." 

In March, (1818) a stage company was organized in town, under the 
name of " The Haverhill and Boston Stage Company," with a capital of 
$-1,200, and went into immediate operation. In 1831, their capital had 
increased to $28,900. It continued until the opening of railroad commu- 
nication with Boston, in 1837, when the name was changed to " The 
Northern and Eastern Stage Company." The introduction of the easy 
and rapid-moving railway car, with its tireless " iron horse," soon super- 
ceded, to a large extent, the lumbering stage-coach, with its horses of 
flesh ; and the latter rapidly withdrew beyond the reach of its powerful 
rival, — as the red man withdrew from the presence of the " pale face," 
— to find a temporary resting-place around the borders of the higher 
civilization. 

As we have already seen, the attention of the town had frequently been 
directed to the importance of finding out the most consistent and econom- 
ical plan for supporting their poor, and several methods had been tried, 
and abandoned. In 1817, the subject again came up for consideration, and 
a committee was chosen to consider the propriety of purchasing or hireing a 



494 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

poor-bouse. The matter continued in abeyance until 1820, when tbe 
town voted to purchase the farm of Thomas Cogswell, situated about a 
mile aud three-fourths east of the bridge, for that purpose. The price 
paid was $1,500, and a further 'sum of $500 was appropriated for stock 
and utensils. Various additions and improvements have from time to time 
been made to the land and buildings, until our " Town Farm" is now 
among the best in the Commonwealth. 

Previous to 1820, taxes were abated only in town meetings, but in that 
year the assessors and selectmen were invested with power to abate such 
as they deemed it just and proper should be abated. The same power is 
still vested in the assessors. 

About the same time the selectmen were annually granted power to 
draw jurymen, without, as before, calling a town meeting for that pur- 
pose. 

From the report of a committee, chosen to re-bound what is now called 
Main Street, we learn that it was at this time (1820) known as " Broad 
Street." The name of " Water Street " appears to have been applied to 
the whole of the river street from Little Eiver bridge to Mill Brook. 
Little Piivcr Bridge was designated as " West Bridge."" Among the 
names of streets at this time, we find How Street, Primrose road. Pecker 
road, Sargeant's road, and Jew Street. 

In 1820, a convention was called for the purpose of revising the State 
Constitution. The delegates from this town to the convention, were, 
Bailey Bartlett, Moses Wingate, and Charles White, 

The Fourth of July, 1821, was celebrated in quite a patriotic manner 
by the citizens of this town. A procession was formed at Masonic Hall, 
on Water Street, and marched to "Eev. Mr. Dodge's Meeting House," 
where the Declaration of Independence was read by James Duncan, Esq., 
and an oration delivered b}'^ James H. Duncan, Esq. After the exercises 
at the meeting-house, the procession re-formed, and marched to " Kendall's 
Hotel," where a bountiful dinner was properly disposed of, followed by 
patriotic toasts. In the evening there was a display of fireworks, the 
programme for which we copy in full from the Haverhill Gazette of June 
30th, 1821: — 

" In the evening there will be a display of Fireioorks in front of the 
Kev. Mr. Dodge's Meetinghouse, to -commence at 9 o'clock, in the follow- 
ing order: — Part 1st. Pockets. A AVheel. A Shower of Pockets. 



o Little River was fonnerly called West Eiver, in distinetion from the principal stream in the East 
Parish, which was known as East River. The name Little River appears to have been taken from the 
Indian deed of the town, where it is used to distinsiiish this stream from the Great River. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHItL. 495 

Cupid's escape from a Hornet's nest. Eockets. Part 2d. A "WheeL 
Kockets. A Wheel. A Shower of Eockets. Cupid's escape from a 
Hornet's nest." 

In December of the same year, a clock was placed in the tower of the 
First Parish meeting-house. When the new edifice was erected, in 1837, 
the clock was repaired and placed in its tower, at the town's expense, where 
it continued to mark the passing hours until, with the building itself, it 
was consumed by fire, January 1, 18-17. 

In 1821, the Second Baptist Society was organized, and a neat and 
commodious house of worship erected the following year. 

In 1823, the First Universalist Society was organized, and two years 
latei% a new brick meeting-house was erected for their use, on Summer 
street. 

In 1824, a brick chapel was erected for the Christian Society, on Wash^ 
ington square, and completed in the fall of that year. 

An indication of the growth of the town about this time, is also found 
in the number of new streets laid out and accepted. In 1824, How, 
Pleasant, Spring, and Stage streets were accepted ; and Summer street 
extended to Kent's lane. What is now Stage street was formerly known 
as Colby's lane, from a Mr. Colby, a tanner, who lived on the south-east 
corner of the street. His tan-yard was a few rods up the street, on the 
east side. John Woodman succeeded Colby in his business, and continued 
to use the yard until he purchased the Mill street property, 'after which 
the pits were taken up, and the place transformed into a garden. 

After the Eocks' Bridge was carried away, in 1818, the town leased the 
old ferry at that place to Col. John Johnson, at a rent of $44 a year. 
The town of West Newbury also leased the ferry to other parties, claim- 
ing at least an equal share in it with this town. After considerable 
negotiation and delay, the matter was finally settled, in 1825, by each 
town leasing its right to the same person. 

In 1825, the Haverhill bridge was repaired and covered ; since which 
time it has undergone but little change, excepting the addition of an out- 
side foot-path on the east side, some improvements in the draw, and the 
insertion of extra timbers in the arches. 

In February, 1826, a remarkable influenza prevailed in many of the 
towns in New England, and even in the middle and southern States. In 
this town, many whole families were confined to their houses. The editor 
of the Gazette, for February 25, reports that four of his printers were on 
the sick list, and the paper was only got out through the assistance of a 
hand from Boston. In Newburyport, it was estimated, three out of every 



496 ttlSTOilY OF IlAVERUILli. 

five families were more or less afflicted ; and in Boston, at least tlirec 
thousand persons were suffering from the disorder. 

The proposition for a division of Essex County was again agitated about 
this time, and, in April, 1826, this town took a formal vote upon the 
matter. Although two hundred and forty-one votes were cast in town fot 
a Governor that year, only sixty-four votes were polled upon the above 
proposition, and but nine of that small number were in favor of a division. 
The county was not divided. 

Toward the latter part of July, 1826, the people of the town were not 
a little excited by the reports of several well known persons that a " wild 
man " had been seen in the woods in the town, who always fled when 
discovered. Supposing that it must be a man named Andrew Frink, who 
had, about two weeks previously, suddenly disappeared, in a fit of insan- 
ity, and for whose recovery a general turn-out and search of the town had 
been already made, a large hunting party was made up, and after a long 
search, and great exertions, succeeded in finding and capturing the man. 
He proved not to be Mr. Frink, but literally a wild man of the woods. 
It was supposed from his appparance that he was some unfortunate, who, 
having perhaps met with disappointment in life, had, in a fit of insanity, 
fled from society. '••' 

On Wednesday, August 1st, of the same year, there was a great fall of 
hail in the easterly part of the town. It appeared as if two clouds met 
at the Great Pond, and then swej^t round by the East Parish meeting- 
house leaving a track of about one mile wide, in which the ground was 
literally covered with hail. The trees, corn, and grass were badly dam- 
aged, and several persons severely pelted with the hail-stones. Some idea 
of the quantity of hail that fell may be gathered from the fact that eight 
days afterward, Mr Daniel Johnson picked up, from a heap then two and 
a half feet high, a basket of the hail-stoues, and carried them to the vil- 
lage for exhibition. The pile was found at the foot of a hill, from which 
the stones had rolled against the fence. When first seen the pile was so 
high as to cover the fence. Heaps of the hail were visible eleven days 
afterward; although exposed to the full heat of an August sun. 

In 1826, two maiden ladies, Lydia and Abigail Marsh, both natives 
and residents of the town, gave half an acre of land, on the north side 
of what is now AVinter Street, as a site for an Academy. The fine brick 
structure now occupied for our High School was at once erected, and was 

o The l)ody of Mr. Frink was found, about six weeks after his disappearance, in " Snow's Brook," 
(Fishing River) about two miles north-west from the village. As he disappeared while in the delirium of 
a fever, it was supposed that he stumbled and full into the brook, and was too weak to rise again. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 497 

formally dedicated on the 30tli of April, 1827, and opened as an Academy. 
Among the dedicatory exercises, were an oration by Hon. Leverett Salton- 
stall, of Salem, and an original ode, by John Gr. Whittior, of this town. 
The building is two stories high, sixty-two feet in length, thirty-three feet 
in breadth, has a cupola, and is furnished with a superior toned bell. 
The Institution was incorporated the same year, and from that time, until 
1841, continued in* successful operation. In the latter year, the First 
District High School was organized, and the Academy building leased for 
its use. 

This mention of the Academy, and its plain but really elegant building, 
will dou,btless awaken a variety of emotions among our readers. Many will 
remember the pleasant scenes and incidents of their academic years, and 
their eye will moisten as they think of the havoc which Old Time has 
made among their class-mates. Some were called early to rest ; others 
battled manfully for a time among the temptations, cares, and checkered 
fortunes of life, but one by one they have sunk exhausted by the wayside, 
and but a straggling few remain to drop a tear to their memory. The large 
and pleasant Hall of the Academy was for many years a favorite place 
for exhibitions, balls, lectures, and religious meetings. Some will there- 
fore associate the name with the fascinations and fleeting pleasures of the 
dance ; while others will remember it as the place where their soul first 
held communion with its God. And so, whether the reminiscence be 
pleasant or painful, hundreds whose eye shall meet this page, will pause 
to recall the scenes they have witnessed, and the hours they have passed, 
in the old Academy. 

At the annual town meeting in 1827, a change was made in the plan 
hitherto adopted in relation to the school committees. Instead of having 
large committees in each of the school districts, a General School Commit- 
tee, consisting of seven, was chosen, and each district was authorized and 
directed to choose their own Prudential Committee. At an adjourned 
meeting, the last part of this proposition was reconsidered, and it was 
decided that the Prudential Committees should also be chosen by the town. 
One was thereupon chosen for each district. 

In the Gazette for November 24th, of the above year, we find a notice 
of the death, in Providence, E. I., of Captain William Baker, a native of 
this town. Baker worked with Mr. Hall, the distiller, in Cole Lane (now 
Portland Street) Boston, at the commencement of the Eevolution, and was 
the first one who obtained information of the intended British expedition 
to Concord. With the assistance of Mr. Hall, he caused the first infor- 
mation to be given in the country, by Adjutant Danvers (or Devens). The 
63 



498 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

next montli, Baker entered tte Continental Service. He vrag su'bseqTiently 
treveted as a captain. He retired from the service in 1780, and toward 
the latter part of his life, was assisted by a pension. 

The carrier of the Gazette, in his address to his patrons, January 1st, 
1828, informs them that 

" Shad Parish still continues much the same ; 

The unwearied ghost still watches Country Bridge, 

Or stalks, w^ith chattering teeth and eyes of flame, 

From his old station, up to Peter's Ridge." 

*' Shad Parish was long a sort of nickname for the East Parish, on ac- 
count of the large quantities of shad caught within its limits. " Peter's 
Eidge" was the residence of "Black Peter," a negro, and the favorite 
route of a certain ghost that many of our readers have doubtless heard of, 
was " from Country Bridge to Peter's Eidge." 

The first Temperance Society formed in this town, — upon the principle 
of Total Abstinence from intoxicating liquors, — was organized on the 
5th of February, 1828, under the name of The Society for the promotion 
of Temperance in Haverhill and vicinity. The circumstances attending 
its formation were as follows : — 

In the summer of 1827, a Eev. Mr. Hewit delivered a discourse on the 
subject of intemperance, to a large audience, in the "First Congrega- 
tional " (First Parish) meeting-house in this town. This discourse excited 
considerable interest and enquiry concerning the proposed plan of refor- 
mation. In the December following, the Eev. Dr. Edwards preached in 
the same place and on the same subject ; and added much to the feeling 
that had been previously elicited. Not long after, two individuals, Isaac 
E. How, Esq., and William Savory, incidentally held a conversation on 
the evils which this part of the community was suffering in consequence 
of drinking ardent spirits, and finally concluded that it was best to make 
an attempt to form a Temperance Society in the town and vicinity. After 
some consideration, they decided to have a meeting called on the next 
Sabbath evening, at the large chamber of Mr. Jonathan K. Smith, (the 
usual place for the evening religious meetings of the Baptist Church) pro- 
vided the latter could be obtained for that purpose. Mr. Smith readily 
granted the request. Mr. How then wrote a notice, the purport of which 
was, that all those in Haverhill and vicinity, who might be disposed to 
adopt some measures for the promotion of temperance, were requested to 
meet in Mr. Smith's chamber, on Sabbath evening, December 23d, 1827. 
This notice Mr. Savory carried to the editor of the Gazette, A. W. Thayer, 
Esq., who readily consented to insert it in his paper for two weeks in sue- 



aiStORY Off HAVERHILL. 499 

"Cession. The proposition appeared to be well received. Kev. Mr. Keely^ 
the pastor of the Baptist church, advised his church to attend the pro- 
posed meeting, and gave notice that it would supercede the usual evening 
meeting. 

When the appointed time came, gentlemen assembled from Haverhill 
and Bradford ; and, at a proper tiAe, the Eev. Mr. Peny, of Bradford, 
was called to the chair, and Mr. Thayer was appointed secretary. After 
an interchange of opinions, a variety of resolutions were adopted, among 
which was one declaring that it was expedient to form a temperance 
society. A committee was thereupon appointed to report a constitution at 
a subsequent meeting, and an adjournment was made for one week. At 
the next meeting a constitution was reported and adopted, and the first 
Tuesday in February was fixed upon • as the time when the constitution 
should be signed and the society organized. Eev. Mr. Perry was invited 
to prepare an Address for the occasion. When the time arrived, all then 
present who desired to do so, (some fifteen or twenty) signed the constitu- 
tion, and the following board of oificers were then chosen : •— 

Kev, Grardner B. Perry, President ; Eev. Dudley Phelps, Vice Presi- 
dent; Mr. Abijah W. Thayer, Secretary and Treasurer; Deacon Caleb B. 
Le Bosquet, Mr. Benjamin Emerson, 2d, Mr. Isaac Morse, and Eliphalet 
Kimball, Esq., Coimcil; and Captain Ezekiel Hale, Jr., and Mr. Andrew 
W. Hammond, Auditors. 

After the choice of ofl&cers, they repaired to the Baptist Church, where 
Eev. Mr. Perry delivered his address. Nineteen persons signed the pledge 
the same evening. 

The first Anniversary Address before the Society, was delivered by Eev. 
Mr. Phelps, February 8, 1829, and the second, by Charles Otis Kimball, 
February 7, 1830.= -= 

The formation of this society, and the discussions and inquiries which 
followed its operations, caused no little interest, and even excitement, in 
the town ; and aroused a vigorous opposition to the movement. In conse- 
•quence of the bold and uncompromising stand taken by the secretary, 
Mr. Thayer, in his Gazette, the circulation of that paper rapidly fell from 
•one thousand down to six hundred copies weekly. But still the work 
went on. 

March 2i, 1831, the " Youth's Temperance Association of Haverhill 
and Bradford," was organized, and thirty-seven signed the constitution 
the same evening. Elias T, Ingalls was chosen President, and Moses R 
Whittier, Secretary. 

o A society was formed upon the same plan in the easterly part of the town, January 24, 1830, upon 
■which occasion Eev. Mr. Phelps deliyered an address in the Second Baptist Church, 



600 niSTOET OP HAVEKHILt. 

In 1833, the friends of the temperance movement nominated a list of 
town officers, and by printing the votes on hlue paper, literally compelled 
every voter to " show his colors " at the polls. 

Three years later, the large rum distillery then owned by Captain Wm. 
Caldwell, was sold to Alfred Kittredge, Esq., who took possession on the 
3d of March, and put out the fires the same night. In 1840, he 
erected the range of stores known as the " Kittredge Block," on the same 
site. Nearly all the bricks used in the construction of the entire block 
of five stores were made, on the spot, from the clay found around the vats 
of the old distillery. AVell might the editor of the Gazette declare that 
a " great change " had taken place in the public sentiment since the dis- 
tillery was erected, but a few years before. Two years still later, (1842) 
strong temperance resolutions were adopted in the annual town meeting ; 
the selectmen were instructed not to grant any licen'ses for the sale of 
ardent spirits ; and a special committee of five was chosen to visit all per- 
sons engaged in the traffic, and endeavor to persuade them to abandon it. 
If they persisted, prosecution was to follow. Such were some of the rich 
fruits of the humble movement, set on foot by two humble individuals. 

In 182S, the steamer Merrimack^ Captain Wm. Haseltine, — the first 
steamboat on, the river, — commenced running between Haverhill and 
Newburyport. The first trip was made from Haverhill, Tuesday, Ajiril 
8th, 1828. Fare to Newburyport, fifty cents. The Merrimack was built, 
and mostly owned in this town ; and was fitted with Wadsworth's Safety 
Steam Engine, the first one of the kind put in any boat. It continued 
running, though quite irregularly, for several years, when the enterprise 
was abandoned. 

The Merrimack Bridge, connecting the Eocks' Village with West-New- 
bury, was completed in the fall of 1828. It is built on Towne's system. 
It is 900 feet in length, and is supported by four stone piers, and two 
abutments, each extending some distance from the shore. It has four 
defensive piers, or sterlings, extending some distance above, and a draw. 
The bridge is built wholly of plank, except the floor timbers, and is, we 
believe, one of the earliest built upon that plan. 

About this time the town found itself without any regular place for 
holding its meetings. The First Parish, in 1827, had voted to charge the 
town in future thirty dollars a year for the use of their meeting-house ; 
but having had the free use of it, and its predecessors, since the Parish 
was first organized (ninety-eight years) the town refused to pay it, and at 
the next meeting ordered the selectmen to provide some other place. 



HISTORY OP riAVERHILt. 50l 

Accordingly, the September meeting (1828) was teld in the West Parish 
meeting-house ; and the November meeting was held in the meeting-house 
of the East Parish. This "boxing the compass" was not, however, 
generally satisfactory, and it was voted that all future meetings should be 
held in the First Parish, provided the selectmen could procure a suitable 
place. They next met in the Baptist meeting-house, then in the Christian 
Union chapel, then in the Univcrsalist meeting-house, again in the First 
Parish, then in Academy Hall, and finally, vibrated between the vestry of 
the Unitarian (or First Parish) church, and the above-named chapel, 
until a Town Hall was erected, in 1847. 

In 1829, the Haverhill Institution for Savings was organized, and 
commenced business in October of the same year. For a more particular 
account of this excellent Institution, see the appendix to this volume. 

July 14th, of the same year, the Infant School Society/ was organized. 
Mrs. James H. Duncan, Mrs. Eufus Longley, Mrs. Isaac E. How, mana- 
gers ; and Miss Eebecca Smith, instructress. The object of the society was 
to provide a suitable place, and instruction, for those too ^young to be 
admitted to the then ungraded schools. In this they were successful. A 
neat and convenient building was erected for their use, where the Town 
Hall now stands, and the school continued to flourish for many years. It 
was supported by moderate tuition fees, and private subscriptions. 

The Haverhill Lyceum, the first organization of the kind in the town, 
was formed February 25, 1830, with James H. Duncan, Esq., President, 
James Gale, Esq., Eecording Secretary, and Isaac E. How, Esq., Corre- 
sponding Secretary. The object of the association was, to provide for an 
annual course of lectures, upon literary and scientific topics, to be deliv- 
ered before the members. The courses usually consisted of ten or twelve 
lectures each, the expenses of which were defrayed by the sale of tickets 
of admission. The price of the latter was usually one dollar per course 
of lectures. The Lyceum was kept up, with but few interruptions, until 
the organization of the Haverhill Athenaeum, in 1852. The latter organ- 
ization, and its successor, the Haverhill Library Association, have continued 
to furnish an annual course of popular lectures to the present time. 

In March, 1830, John G. Whittier, then editor of the Essex Gazette^ 
in this town, issued proposals to publish a History of Haverhill, in one 
volume, of two hundred pages, duodecimo, price eighty-seven and one-half 
cents per copy. If the material swelled the volume above two hundred 
pages, the price was to be one dollar per copy. Friend Whittier soon 
found that the amount of labor required to compile the work, and the 



502 HISTORY OP HAVERHILt. 

limited encouragement oflFered, were too serious obstacles to be easily 
surmounted, and tbe project was abandoned. 

In June, 1831, B. L. Mirick, then a young man employed in the store 
of Mr. John Dow, as clerk, issued a prospectus for a History of the town. 
The book was to contain two hundred pages, and the price fixed was one 
dollar per copy. It was published the following March. 

Mirick's History of Haverhill was a small sized octavo volume, of two 
hundred and twenty-seven pages, embellished with a single engraving, — a 
lithographic view of Haverhill — and, although gotten up with evident 
haste, and under the pressure of other engagements, it was alike creditable 
to the compiler and the town. It was published by A. W. Thayer, at the 
office of the Essex Gazette. It is, however, but just to add, that Mirick 
found a large part of the material used by him, already prepared. Friend 
Whittier had collected a large amount of valuable matter, which was 
readily placed in his hands, and the excellent Historical Sketch of Haver* 
hill, — prepared by Leverett Saltonstall, Esq., for the Massachusetts 
Historical Society, and published with their proceedings, in 1816, — left 
him comparatively little to do, except to arrange the material, and super- 
intend its publication. 

Mirick was a man of considerable literary talent, and wrote some 
excellent poetry. In 1 832, he was for a few months editor of the Middlesex 
Telegrojjh, at Lowell, after which he engaged in the dry goods business, 
in Boston, and subsequently in Bangor, Maine. 

In 1830, in answer to an order of the General Court, the selectmen 
were directed to have a correct survey made of the town. This was done 
the following year, and in 1832, James Gale, Esq., published an excellent 
lithographic map of the town, from this official survey. The size of the 
map was eighteen by twenty-nine inches, — - being drawn on a scale of 
one hundred rods to an inch. It was the first map of the town ever 
published. 

In the summer of 1831, the inhabitants of the town were greatly 
alarmed on account of the ravages of mad-dogs in the neighboring towns, 
and other parts of the State. So serious appeared the danger, that a town 
meeting was called to consider the matter ; but no definite action was 
taken, and the excitement soon subsided. 

The death of Joseph Morse, of this town, which occurred September 
26, 1831, under very peculiar circumstances, seems to call for a special 
notice in this place. 

Mr. Morse was a man about thirty-seven years of age, of nervous tem- 
perament, and rather tender constitution of body. He had for a long 



HISTORY OP HAVERHII,!.. 603 

time Tbeen afflicted with palpitation of the heart, which was greatly 
aggravated by the least excitement, or unusual exercise. For several 
years he labored under a heavy despondency of mind, — believing that he 
had "committed the unpardonable sin," — from which he at last emerged, 
and for about a year before his death, he was in an exceedingly happy 
and joyous frame of mind. A short time before his death, he informed 
his brother that he should live but a short time, and rehearsed the manner 
in which "it had appeared to him " that he should die. He said that he 
would be called upon to raise the draw of the bridge," to permit a vessel 
to pass up, and should bleed to death in the act. Nothing could persuade 
him that this was only the picture of a disordered imagination. He knew 
it woxdd he so. Early in the morning of September 26th, a schooner, 
commanded by Captain Newcomb, of this town, approached the bridge, 
and sounded a horn, as a signal for the draw to be raised. Mr. Morse 
was seen to hurry on to the bridge, and make preparations for raising it. 
But before he had commenced the actual raising, he was heard to say, 
"I'm dying;" and on looking up, those on board the vessel distinctly 
saw the blood pouiing from his mouth in a large stream. Before assist- 
ance could reach him, he was dead. In the excitement, he had evidently 
ruptured one of the larger blood-vessels, — already, probably, extensively 
diseased. 

In 1832, great alarm was felt in the town, on account of the awful 
ravages of the cholera in the country. The excitement and anxiety at 
length became so great, that a special town meeting was held on the 28th 
of July. At this meeting, a health committee of seven persons was chosen 
with power to visit places, remove nuisances, establish a hospital if neces- 
sary, and furnish disinfectants. The latter were to be furnished citizens 
at cost. If the cholera actually appeared in the town, the committee 
were authorized to send a physician, at the town's expense, to some place 
where the plague was, or had been, to learn the best modes of treatment. 
Eesolutions were also passed, urging and requesting all persons to discon- 
tinue for a time the use of ardent spirits, unless ordered or advised by a 
physician. Happily the town was passed over by the terrible plague. 
One or two persons experienced slight attacks, but none died. 

In the summer of 1833, President Jackson paid a visit to New England 
and was everywhere received with the honors that so justly belong to that 
exalted station. As he was expected to visit Salem, Lowell, Concord, and 
other places in the vicinity, a strong desire was manifested to secure a 

* Mr. Morse was toll-keeper at the Rocks' Bridge. 



504 HISTORY OV HAVERHILL. 

similar honor for this town. Accordingly, June 20tli, a town meeting was 
called, and Ira Noyes and Edwin Harriman were chosen a committee to 
extend a formal invitation to the President to include Haverhill in the 
list of favored places. The selectmen, and twelve others, were made a 
committee of arrangements for the reception, and six were chosen to assist 
them. The President accepted the invitation, and the citizens vied with 
each other in efforts to put their houses and streets in holiday array for 
the occasion. Triumphal arches were erected, flags and banners prepared, 
buildings decorated, and everything done that ingenuity could devise, or 
money secure, that it was thought would add to the interest and attrac- 
tions of the reception. 

Almost at the last hour, and while the whole town were on the tiptoe 
of pleasant expectation, news came that the President had been taken sud- 
denly ill at Salem, and had consequently so changed his route, that he 
could not visit Haverhill ! It was a sad disappointment to the good peo- 
ple of the town, and it was some time ere they could realize the unwel- 
come fact that all their pains had been taken for nought. 

About this time, the subject of railway communication with Boston 
began to receive attention. The great importance and convenience of 
such a communication was obvious. The completion of a railroad from 
Andover to the Boston and Lowell railroad, at AVilmington, was already 
made certain, and brought the matter directly home to the capitalists 
and business men of Haverhill. The first meeting upon the subject, 
was held at the Eagle House, January 7th, 1834, — Hon. James H. 
Duncan, Chairman, Alfred Kittredge, Esq., Secretary. The meeting 
decided that the road ought to be extended from Andover to Haverhill, 
and a committee was chosen to explore the route, procure a scientific survey, 
and petition the Legislature for a charter. The enterprise was pushed 
forward with vigor. In the fall of 1835, the work of grading between 
Andover and Haverhill commenced ; in August, 183G, the cars commenced 
running between Andover and Wilmington ; and on the 26th of October, 
1837, the road was formally opened to the Merrimack, at Bradford." The 
latter was an occasion of great rejoicing in this town. It was celebrated 
by a free ride of the stockholders over the road, and a splendid collation 
at Academy Hall, followed by the usual variety of lively and interesting 
sentiments and speeches, f 

o The road was opened to East Kingston in December, 1839, and soon after to Portland. 

t Believing that it will even now be read with interest, and will be found more and more interesting, 
as time shall multiply its changes and improvements, we give in full the " Stage Register " for Ilaverhill, 
as published just previous to the opening of the railroad connecting it with Boston : — 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 505 

The first Anti-Slavery Society in this town, was organized April 3d, 
1834. Hon. Gilman Parker, President; A. W. Thayer, Eecording Secre- 
tary ; and John Gr. Whittier, Corresponding Secretary.'-' This was not 
long after followed by the organization of a Female Anti-Slavery Society, 
andj still later, by the organization of similar bodies in other parts of the 
town. The movement, however, met with considerable opposition, as may 
be judged from the fact that, in 1835, an anti-slavery meeting was broken 
up in the town by a' mob ! The circumstances were these: — 

A Eev. Mr. May, an " Abolitionist Lecturer," occupied the desk of the 
First Parish society on a Sabbath afternoon, in August, 1835, and, having 
engaged the Christian Union Chapel for the purpose, was to deliver an 
anti-slavery lecture at that place in the evening. The evening meeting 
was entirely broken up, by a mob outside, who threw sand, gravel, and 
small stones, against the windows, breaking the glass, and by their hoot- 
ings, and other noises, frightened the female portion of the audience, and 
led to the fear, on the part of all, that more serious assaults would follow, 
if the meeting was continued. It was, therefore, summarily dissolved. 
It was, perhaps, fortunate that the latter course was adopted, as a loaded 
cannon was then being drawn to the spot, to add its thunderings to the 
already disgraceful tumults of that otherwise quiet Sabbath evening ! 

The Fourth of July, 1835, was observed at the Eocks' Village, in a 
most enthusiastic manner, by the " Democratic Ecpublicans." A proces- 
sion, escorted by the Haverhill Light Infantry, marched to the Second 

"STAGE REGISTER, 

" The Haverhill and Boston Accommodation stage. — This stage leaves Haverhill every Monday 
Wednesday and Friday at 8 o'clock, a. m., and arrives at Boston at 1 o'clock p. m. Returning, leaves the 
city every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, at 2 1-2 o'clock p. m., and arrives at Haverhill same 
evening. 

" Boston Mail stage leaves Boston every day in the week, Sunday excepted, at half past seven o'clock 
a. m., and arrives in Haverhill at 12. Returning, leaves Haverhill every day at 1 o'clock, p. m., and 
arrives in Boston same evening. 

" Salem stage leaves Haverhill for Salem every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 1 o'clock p. m. 
Returning, leaves Salem for Haverhill every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 o'clock a. m., and 
arrives in Haverhill between 11 and 12. 

" Newhuryport stage leaves Newburyport for Haverhill every day at 9 o'clock a. m., and arrives 1-2 
past 11. Returning! leaves Haverhill every day at 1 o'clock, and arrives in Newburyport at 4. 

"Lowell and Methiien stage leaves Haverhill every day at 1 o'clock, and arrives at half past 4. Re- 
turning, leaves Lowell everyday at 8 o'clock a. m. and arrives in Haverhill at half past 11. 

"Exeter and Dover stage leaves Haverhill every day at. 12 o'clock for Dover and arrives at 6 p. m. 
Returning, leaves Dover at 7 1-2 o'clock, and arrives in Haverhill at 1 o'clock p. m. every day. 

" Concord Stage leaves Haverhill Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 12 o'clock, and arrives at 
Concord same evening. Returning, leaves Concord Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, at 7 a. m., and 
arrives in Haverhill at 1 p. m." 

° The Essex County Anti-Slavery Society was formed June 10th, 1834 — Rev. Gardner B. Perry, 
President, and John G. Whittier Corresponding Secretary. The American Anti-Slavery Society was 
organized in May, 1833. 

63 



606 HISTORY OF nATERHILL. 

Baptist meeting-liouse, wtere an oration was deliverecl loy J. W. Mansnr, 
of Lowell, followed by a dinner under an arbor near the bank of the beau- 
tiful MeiTimack. In the central village, the occasion was noticed by the 
"Young Men's Temperance Lyceum." An address was delivered in 
the First Parish meeting-house, by Erastus Brooks, Esq.. followed by a 
public dinner. 

In the summer of 1835, the brick factory on Winter Street was erected 
by Ezekiel Hale, Jr., & Son. The building is ninety-five feet in length, 
by thirty-four feet in breadth, and four stories in height. It was built 
adjoining the old factory, which was of the same height, and fifty-nine 
feet in length, by twenty-seven feet in breadth. The whole was intended 
to run sixteen hundred spindles, turn out six hundred yards of superior 
scarlet flannel per day, and give employment to about thirty persons. The 
factory is now owned and operated by Messrs. Stevens & Co., (who pur- 
chased it in 1855) and employs about forty persons, turning out about 
eight thousand yards of excellent flannel per week. 

In the fall of 1835, the town voted to build a •' Work House " at the 
town farm. It was to be twenty feet square, and two stories in height, 
with three strong rooms, or cells, (ceiled with three-inch oak plank) on 
the ground floor, and two rooms in the second story, suitable for workshops. 
It was erected the following winter, at a cost of $708,80. At the same 
time, a committee was chosen to' petition the General Court for a general 
or special act, empowering the overseers of the poor to commit to the work- 
house all persons who receive any assistance from the town, or any of their 
families. Such an act was passed, and from time to time, persons have 
been committed in accordance with its provisions. The number of such 
committals has, however, always been small, and we believe that for sev- 
eral years past none whatever have been made. 

In January, 183G, the First Uhiversalist Society raised their first bell, 
making the fourth church -bell then in the village. Previous to about this 
time, the First Parish bell had been regularly rung daily, at twelve o'clock, 
M., and nine o'clock, P. M. This was an old custom, and, for aught we 
know, was introduced into New England along with the first church-bell. 
It is still kept up in very many New England towns and cities. Even in 
Boston, the familiar tone of the " Old South " bell may still be daily 
heard above the din of the busy streets, calling the multitude from labor, 
to their mid-day refreshment. In this town, the daily ringing of the bell 
was regularly kept up until about the time we have mentioned, after which 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 507 

it was done a part of the time only, until, about 1848, it was discontinued 
altogether, mucli to the regret of many who cherish the " good old cus- 
toms of our fathers." 

In November, 1836, Summer Street was extended from Kent to Mill 
Streets ; and Webster Street was laid out. Both were accepted by the 
town. 

In the spring of 1837, a census of the town was taken, by the assessors, 
from which it appears that there was then a population of four thousand 
seven hundred and twenty-six in the town. The whole number of polls 
was one thousand four hundred and four. The village contained a popu- 
lation of two thousand seven hundred and seventy-one, with eight hundred 
and thirty-one polls ; the East Parish six hundred and nipety-seven popu- 
lation, and one hundred and eighty-one polls ; the West Parish a population 
of seven hundred and seventy-seven, and two hundred and thirty-three 
polls ; and the North Parish a population of four hundred and eighty-one, 
and one hundred and fifty-nine polls. This was an increase since 1830, 
of eight hundred and fourteen in population, and four hundred and fortj- 
two polls. 

When, in 1828, the town was refused the longer free use of the First Par- 
ish meeting-house, the question arose, to whom belongs the land where the 
First Parish meeting-house now stands? A committee was chosen by 
the town to investigate the point. The result of their investigations left 
the matter in doubt. Finally, in 1836—7, the parish decided to replace 
their old meeting-house by a new and more imposing structure, and made 
a proposition to release all claim to the " common," in exchange for the 
Marsh lot, just north of it. The matter came before the town at 
their meeting jn May, 1837, and $1,000 was appropriated toward purchas- 
ing the claim, that the place might be laid out as a common forever. The 
above estate was purchased, at a cost of $2,750, the buildings sold for 
$1,000, and the balance was made up by individual subscription. 

James H. Difncan, Esq., was made chairman of a committee to carry 
out the vote of the town, and to his exertions and liberality we are largely 
indebted for our present beautiful common. The following vote of the 
Parish, passed June 5, 1837, shows the conditions upon which the quit- 
claim was made : — 

" Voted, That the Parish will sell, by quit-claim deed, to the Town of 
Haverhill, for the use of the Town, as an ornamental common, not to be 
built on, the land of the Parish heretofore used as their meetinghouse lot ; 
reserving all the stones and brick on the same, on full and plain conditions, 
expressed in the deed, limiting the use of the said land, for the purpose 



508 HISTORY OF nAVERniLL. 

of an ornamental common, and providing for the said deed "being void, and 
the land reverting to the Parish, if any building or buildings ■whatever, 
shall, either by the said town or any person or body, ever be placed or 
suffered to remain on said land, or on any of the land situate between any 
part of the said land and the Marsh lot, so called, lying a few rods north- 
erly of the land so deeded to the Town." 

The Parish immediately commenced the- erection of an elegant church 
edifice on the new lot ; and at the next annual meeting, the town chose a 
committee to level the common, and otherwise improve it. It was several 
years, however, before the work of enclosing and embellishing it was fully 
completed ; and to the active and energetic labors of the ladies of the 
town must be accorded a large part of the credit due for its final accom- 
plishment. 

At the annual March meeting in 1837, the town voted to receive its 
share of the surplus revenue then about to be divided among the several 
States. The General Court of Massachusetts had passed an Act author- 
izing its proportion of the surplus to be divided among the several towns 
in the State, upon the same conditions that Congress had authorized its 
distribution among the several States. At the above meeting the town 
accepted the conditions, and chose a committee to devise some appropriate 
plan for the disposition of the money. At the adjourned meeting, the 
committee submitted the following report: — 

*' The committee chosen at the last meeting ' to recommend a disposition 
of the portion of the surplus Revenue that may belong to the town ' have 
attended to that duty and Eeport, 

That the probable amount of the Town's proportion of said surplus 
Eevenue will be nearly Twelve Thousand Dollars. That it is payable in 
four quarterly instalments, two of which will be soon receivable, and the 
remaining two in July and October next. That as a condition of receiving 
the money, the Town must give a certificate of Deposite binding the town 
for a repayment of the same or any part thereof, when required, and that 
by the Act of the Legislature, the Town must apply the money, or the 
interest on the same to those public objects of expenditure, for which 
Towns may now lawfully raise and appropriate monc}^ and to no other 
purpose. And as the Towji is now indebted to the amount of nearly seven 
thousand dollars, your committee recommend, first, that three thousand 
dollars of said deposite money be applied to the payment of the Town's 
debts. Second, that one thousand dollars of the same be i*e-loaned on 
interest to the First School District in Haverhill, to enable their building 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 509 

committee to pay for the School House lately erected by said District. 
And lastly, in order to secure a safe and productive investment of said 
deposite money, your committee recommend that the residue of said depos- 
ite money, including the future instalments, and the sum recommended to 
be loaned to said School District, when repaid, be invested in the stocks 
of the Merrimack and Haverhill Banks at the lowest rate at which shares 
can be purchased, and that the interest of all the amount invested on 
interest, be annually apportioned by the Selectmen to the several School 
Districts for the support of cojnmon schools, according to the number of 
scholars in each school district between the ages of four and sixteen years. 
And to carry into effect the foregoing recommendations, your committee 
propose the following votes. All of which is respectfully submitted. 

13y order of the committee, 

James H. Duncan, 

Haverhill, April 8th, 1837. Chairman." 

The report was accepted, and its recommendations adopted. 

The necessity of an official and well understood name for each of the 
several streets, now that the town was rapidly increasing in population, 
and new streets were being frequently laid out, was too apparent to escape 
attention; and we accordingly find that, at the annual meeting in ISoS, 
a committee was chosen to name them. The following is copied from the 
records of April 16th, of the same year: — 

" Voted That the report of the Committee chosen April 2d, 1838, to 
name the several streets in the village, be accepted, as amended, which is 
as follows, viz. 

AYater St., From the Great Bridge to Gage's corner, or Plain Gate. 

Front St.,''- From the Great Bridge to Little River Bridge. 

Washington St., From Little Paver Bridge to West Parish line, by Daniel 
SiWer's house. 

Main St., From the Great Bridge to the State line near Plastow meeting- 
house. 

Summer St., From Main to Mill St. near Col. Woodman's Mill. 

Broad St.,f From Main St. by the Street Pump to Derry St. over the Stone 
Bridge. 

DeiTy St., J From Little Eiver Bridge to corner of Derry road west of 
Moses Poor's house. 

* Changed May 2d, to Merrimack street. 

t Changed May 2d, to Winter street. 

t Changed May 2d, to Essex street (from Little River Bridge to the foot of the hill.) 



510 HISTORY OP UAVERIIILL. 

Bradford St., From Water St. near Mrs Whittier's Brick house, to the 

Chain Ferry. 
Mill St., From Water St., by Col. Woodman's Mill to Fond St. 
Jew St., From Derry Street by the brick yard, and Aaron Carlton's house, 

to New Hampshire line. 
Cross St., From Water St. to Mill St. 
Kent St., From Water St. crossing Summer St. to Pond St. 
Stage St., From AVater St. by Merrimack Bank to Summer St. 
Green St., From AVater St. by Nathan Webster's Hat Factory to Sum* 

mer St. 
Pecker St., From Front St. by the Baptist Vestry to Broad St. 
How St., From Front St. to Broad St. west of the Baptist meeting house. 
Portland St., From Broad St. to White St.- 

Pleasant St., From Broad St. to Pecker St. by Benj Kimball's house. 
High St., From Derry St. to Washington St. at top of the Hill. 
Primrose St., From Broad St. to Main St. near Mrs Duston's house. 
White St., From Broad St. to Main St. 
Pond St., From Main St. by Capt. John Ayer's to Bridge at the great 

Pond. 
Webster St., From Summer St. to Pond Street. 
Dow St., From Main St. crossing Webster St. to Kent St. 

All of which is respectfully submitted.! 
Haverhill, April 16th, 1838. Moses Wingate, chairman.'* 

In the fall of 1838, Mr. Moses E. Emerson, of this town, advertised, 
that on the 19th of November, he should commence going to Boston in 
the cars every morning, returning in the evening, for the purpose of trans* 
acting any business entrusted to him. This was the beginning of what 
has now become an important and extensive business, — the " Express '* 
business. E. C. Thompson & Co., now employ three messeug^s, (making 
three trips daily each way) two horses and drivers in Haverhill, and three 
horses and two drivers in Boston. 

In 1839, Ezekiel Hale, Jr., petitioned the town, for liberty to erect a 
flume at the outlet of the Great Pond, for the purpose of holding the water 
in reserve to supply his factory during the dry season of the year. He 
had already expended upwards of seven hundred dollars in widening and 
deepening tlie bed of tlie stream leading from the pond to Little Kiver, 
and erecting flumes ; and now wished to hold the surplus water of the 

* Portland street wns accepted at the March meeting of the same year. 
t School street was accepted the following year. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 511 

pond under KIs own control. The town gave Lim a quit-claim of its right 
to erect such a flume, and to flow the pond, on condition that he erected a 
suitable bridge and causeway at the outlet of the pond, and seciired the 
town from all costs and damages arising from such flowage.* 

The Fourth of July, 1839, was celebrated by a large party at the Great 
Pond ; and by the First Universalist Society, at Plug Pond. The day was 
further noticed, by a national salute of twenty-six guns, and the ringing 
of bells, at sunrise, noon, and sunset, and a display of fireworks in the 
evening. Previous to this, it had for many years been the practice, — in 
addition to bonfires, dragging burning tar-barrels through the streets, &c., 
• — to throw " fire-balls " back and forth through the streets, on the even- 
ing of the Fourth of July.f But this year, on petition of many of the 
citizens of the village, the town voted to prohibit the use of not only fire- 
balls, but crackers, and squibs. 

Toward the latter part of 1839, Eev. Wm. Miller, — whose predictions 
that the year 1843 would witness the destruction of the world by fire, 
had already awakened a deep interest in other places. — visited this town, 
and preached a course of lectures upon his startling topic, in the Christian 
Union Chapel. The earnest manner of the preacher, the apparent plausi- 
bility of his interpretations of scripture, and the awful sublimity of the 
subject, caused him to be listened to by large audiences, with deepest in- 
terest. In January, (1810) he delivered a second course -upon the same 
subject, which deepened the impression already made, and led to a general 
religious awakening in the town. In the following April, there were, at 
one time, four series of protracted meetings being held in the village. At 
the Union Evangelical Church (Winter Street) such a meeting commenced 
on the oth of April, and was continued every evening, and a part of the 
time every afternoon, for some two months. In the height of the excite- 
ment, several persons were thrown into a trance state, and the meetings 
were repeatedly continued until near the morning's dawn. Scenes such 
as were witnessed in that place during these memorable weeks, are beyond 
the power of description, and will probably never be repeated in all their 
wild extravagance. 

* In 1814, Ezekiel Hale (senior) petitioned the town for permission to erect a Lock at Little River 
Bridge, " so as to float lumber to his mill." The matter was referred to a committee, who reported fav- 
orably, but the town refused to grant the desired permission. In 1826, Mr. Hale applied to the General 
Court for permission to make a canal "from Hale's Mill pond, by the Little River, to the Merrimack." 
The prayer was granted, and the canal was made, but never used. It was intended for the purpose of 
running logs and lumber between the Merrimack and Mr. Hale's saw mill, which was located on the 
opposite side of the stream from the present flannel factory. 

t These fire balls were balls of cotton, soaked in spirits of turpentine, and thrown back and forth with 
Sloved hands, while bnrning. 



512 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

From the official " census of Pensioners," for 1840, we find that there 
were but six then living in this town. These were James Walker, aged 
90 ; David How, 84 ; Daniel Bradbury, 77 ; James Simpson, 83 ; Daniel 
Silver, 77 ; Daniel Clough, 77. 



HISTOUT OF HATEEHILL. 613 



CHAPTER XXVIL 



1840 TO 1860. 



The large increase in the population of the town, in the years immedi- 
ately preceding that in which our chapter opens, created a demand for 
more extensive and perfect school accommodations in the central district 

In the year 1838, a small wooden building was erected upon the pres- 
ent site of the School Street school-house, to afford school accommodations 
for the increasing population in the easterly part of the village. Similar 
buildings were also erected during the same year in the westerly part of 
the village, — one on High Street, and one on Washington Street. Pre- 
vious to this, the old building at the head of the common was the only 
public school-house in the village. 

The School Street house had two rooms, — one for a Primary and the 
other for a Grammar School, — with an average attendance of about forty 
pupils each. The Grammar department was under the care of Isaac 
Ames, Esq.,=--= for a short time, and for several years was taught by a suc- 
cession of teachers, all of whom retained the situation for a short time, 
with the exception of Mr. John B. Carrick, who taught successfully for 
several years, until failing health obliged him to resign his charge. He 
died while the dews of early manhood were fresh upon him, beloved and 
honored by his pupils, as an affectionate and faithful instructor. 

The house was remodeled in 1847, by throwing both rooms into one, for 
the Grammar School, and fitting up a room in the basement for a Primary 
department. This proved to be an injudicious measure, as the basement 
room was damp and unhealthy, and the upper room too small for the large 
increase of attendance in that department. The old building was there- 
fore sold, and removed, in 1855, and the present spacious and substantial 
structure erected, at a cost of nearly $15,000. The building is of brick, 
with free-stone trimmings, and granite foundation ; eighty feet in length 
by fifty in breadth ; two stories in height, — with a fine basement for 
play-rooms in stormy weather. The building is divided into six school- 
rooms, and a spacious hall, with ample entries, and closets for clothing, 

• Now Judge of Probate and Insolvency for the County of Suffolk. 

65 



514 niSTORY OF nAVERniLL. 

connected with each room. The rooms arc light, spacious, and well venti- 
lated, and furnished with all the modern imjirovements and convenicn- 
cics. Ample play-grounds, ornamented with shade-trees, are connected 
with the building. The house was dedicated Jane 17, 1 8") G, with appro- 
priate exercises by the pupils, addresses by gentlemen of the General 
School Committee, and singing an original hymn. The school is estab- 
lished upon the graded system, consisting of the primary, Intermediate, 
and Grammar divisions, each division being sub-divided and occupying a 
separate room. Children five years of age 'are admitted to the Primary 
room where they remain until fitted for the next grade. 

This school has been under the care of Dr. John Crowell, as principal, 
for several years, assisted by five female teachers, with an attendance of 
about three hundred pupils." 

Since the present building has been occupied, nearly five hundred dol- 
lars have been raised by the eiforts of the teachers and scholars, and ap- 
propriated in purchasing a fine piano, and several beautiful engravings for 
the hall, and planting shade-trees in the yards. 

As early as 1835, the population of the town had reached the number 
fixed upon by the commonwealth for the establishment of a High School, 
and a proposition to that eifect was made, but was indefinitely postponed. 

In 1840, the subject of a High School again came before the town for 
definite action. A committee was thereupon chosen to consider thp matter 
and report. At the September meeting, the committee reported, that the 
town was liable to indictment unless they established a High School, or 
acceptct the act of the previous Legislature, which released all towns 
from establishing such a school, provided they expended twenty-five per 
cent, more on their district schools than they had previously raised for that 
purpose. The committee recommended the latter course, which was agreed 
to, and $700 additional was appropriated for the purpose. 

The next year, the First District voted to establish a High School, and 
the Academy building was hired for the purpose. The first examination 
for admission to the school was held at the latter place, April 2Sth and 
29th, 1841, and the school went into immediate operation. 

The same year (1841) the town accepted the act of the General Court 
establishing a " fire department," and the fire companies and wardens were 

° Since the above was written, Dr. Crowell has resijrned his position as principal of this flourishing 
school, and again resumed the practice of his profession. Dr. C. was admirably qualified for the positioa 
he so long filled, and to him belongs a large share of the credit due fur the high position occupied by thi» ' 
school. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 515 

immediately re-organized, agreeably to said act." The town also voted to 
pay tlie firemen "for sta3dag over night at the Stage Street fire," the pre- 
vious October, — when the steam mill of Noyes & Dunbar, and the house 
and shop of Lyman Worthen, were totally destroyed. This was the first 
instance of payment to the firemen in the town for their services, except 
the allowance of their annual poll tax, as previously mentioned. At the 
same time, the selectmen were authorized to pay them for any similar ser- 
vice the ensuing year, at their discretion. 

The Fourth of July, 1841, was noticed in town by a grand Temperance 
Celebration, under the direction of the " H^erhill Washingtonian Soci- 
ety," which had been recently organized, and was then in vigorous opera- 
tion. 

The "Washingtonian movement, which originated with a few obscure men 
in Baltimore, in IS-tO, spread rapidly over the whole country, and was the 
means of rescuing thousands from a drunkard's grave. This town was an 
early sharer in the happy fruits of that movement, and not a few who read 
these pages haA^e cause for gratitude that they were brought within the 
charmed circle ; while a still greater number, around whose pathway the 
dark shadows of intemperance were silently but surely gathering, will 
bless the day that rescued some dear friend from the fearful snares which 
entangled him. 

Many persons wilPremember the exciting scenes and discussions in Con- 
gress, about the time of which we now write, upon " the right of petition." 
While the free and unrestrained right of the people to petition their repre- 
sentatives in Congress assembled, was claimed on the one hand, it was not 
only denied on the other, but the dissolution of the Union was threatened 
if petitioning upon the subject of slavery was persisted in. These threats, 
while they alarmed many, provoked the just indignation of others. The 
writer well remembers frequent and warm discussions upon the sub- 
ject in the place where he was then employed, and the repeated and 
earnestly expressed wish of one ardent believer in " free speech, "f that 
these hypocritical threats might be rebuked by petitions from the North, 
praying for the very thing so fiercely threatened by members froin the 
South. Acting upon the hint, as we have no doubt, Benjamin Emerson, 2d, 
who was fi'equently present at these discussions, drew up such a petition, 
which was signed by forty-four persons, and duly forwarded to the Hon. 

° The next j-ear, the town accepted the code of By-Lawa adopted by the Engineers. 
t Deacon Tappan Chase. 



616 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILI,. 



John Quincy Adams, the fearless and uncomproiaising defender of the right 
called in question. The following is a copy of the petition : -^ 

" To the Congress of the United States. The undersigned, citizens of 
Haverhill, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, pray that you will 
immediately adopt measures, peaceably, to dissolve the Union of these 
States. 

First, Because no Union can be agreeable or permanent, which does 
not present prospects of reciprocal benefit. 

Second, Because a vast pmportion of the resources of one section of the 
Union is annually drained to sustain the views and course of another sec- 
tion without any adequate return. 

Third, Because (judging from history of past nations) this Union if 
persisted in, in the present course of things, will certainly overwhelm this 
whole nation in utter destruction. 



Benj Emerson 2d 
John P. Montgomery 
Osgood G. Boynton 
Elisha Hutchinson 
Franklin Currier 
Edward E. Dike 
Elijah S. Tozier 
Wm Hale 
Joseph Flanders 
Alfred S. Parmlee 
George 0. Harmon 
N. P. Dresser 
James Harmon 
Otis W. Butters 
John Philbrick 



Wm H. Noyes 
Edwin A. Sargent 
Herman Kimball 
"Washington Johnson 
Thomas Ball 
Joseph B. Spiller 
J. Henry Johnson 
Francis Butters, jr 
Sewell E. Jewett 
Willibee H. Currier 
Daniel Brickett 
Cornelius Jenness 
Wm N. Davis 
Ezekiel Hale, jr 



Samuel Stuart 
Samuel Plumer 
Nathaniel Foot 
Leonard Parker 
Francis Butters 
Geo. F. Bailey 
Elbridge G. Davis 
Alfred Gage 
Truman M, Martin 
Oliver H. F. Delaware 
B. Greeley 
Nathan AVebster 
Charles Fitch 
John L. Head." 



Tappan Chase 

On the 24: th of January, 1842, Mr. Adams presented the petition in 
the national House of Ecpresentatives, and moved its reference to a special 
committee, with instructions to report an answer to the petitioners. An 
exciting scene followed. Mr. Hopkins asked if it was in order to move 
to burn the petition in presence of the House ; Mr. Wise, (of Va.,) asked 
if it was in order to move to censure any member who presented such a 
petition; and Mr. Gilmer, (of N. C.,) offered a resolution censuring Mr. 
Adams for presenting it. After an exciting discussion, the House abruptly 
adjourned. Nearly the whole of the next four days was spent in discuss- 
ing resolutions offered by Jlr. Marshall, (as a substitute for Mr. Gilmer's) 
declaring that "a proposition to the representatives 'to dissolve' the 
Union, is a high breach of privilege, contempt offered to the House, a 
proposition to commit perjury, and involves the crime of high, treason ; 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 517 

that John Q. Adams, in presenting a petition praying the dissolution of 
the Union, has offered the deepest indignity to the House, and insult to 
the people of the United States ; " and " that John Q. Adams might well 
be held to merit expulsion from the national councils," for offering such a 
petition. On the 29th, the resolutions were " postponed for the present ; " 
and February oth, the whole subject was tabled, by a large majority. 

In view of recent developments, and the present condition of our 
national affairs, we have deemed the history of the "Haverhill Disunion 
Petition" entitled to a place on the pages of this work, and have therefore 
given it. As we distinctly understood it at the time, the petition was 
intended as a rebuke for what were believed to be hollow threats of dis- 
union, and its effect certainly seems to have proved the shrewdness of the 
petitioners. 

The Fourth of July, 1842, was celebrated by the " Washington Street 
Washington Total Abstinence Society," by a procession to the common, 
where an address was delivered by Charles T. Woodman, Esq., followed 
by a collatiorii at the same place. 

At the annual town meeting in 1843, it was voted to divide the " sur- 
plus revenue" equally among the inhabitants of the town, each giving his 
individual note to the town, promising to return the sum received by him, 
on demand. Th^s was in direct violation of the terms upon which the 
town itself held the money, and an injunction was immediately issued, 
restraining them from making such a distribution. A meeting was there- 
upon called, (June 5) and it was voted to apply the interest of the fund to 
the support of the schools in town. 

The Anniversary of the National Independence was celebrated in 1843, 
by a Ladies' Levee, on the vacant lot, corner of Summer and Stage Streets, 
the proceeds of which were applied " for the benefit of the Poor." The 
day was also observed by the Sabbath School connected with the Second 
Baptist Society, in a procession, an address by Rev. Benj. Wheeler, of 
Plaistow, and a collation on the banks of the Merrimack. 

The subject of temperance still continued to occupy a prominent place in 
the public mind, and at the annual meeting in 1844, the town passed reso- 
lutions similar to those it adopted in 1842. 

Though the common was purchased and leveled several years previous to 
this time, it was not yet suitably enclosed and laid out. But in 1844, the 
ladies of the village took hold of the matter, and, in September of that 
year, held a levee, at the Academy Hall, to provide funds for that 
purpose. The effort was successful, and the public spirited maids and mat- 
rons are fully entitled to this honorable mention for their seasonable 
Bervices in improving this beautiful pari;. 



618 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

In 1845, a new temperance organization was introduced into town, 
under the form of a semi-" secret society," known as " The Independent 
Order of Rcchabites." A " Tent " was formed here in the early part of 
that year, and so rapid was the increase of its members, that in August 
the large hall in Duncan's Building, Main Street, was leased, and dedica- 
ted to their use. 'Jh3 new organization continued to flourish for a few 
years, when it rapidly fell into decay, and soon ceased to exist. 

At the time of the organization of the Eechabitcs, the Washingtonian 
Society had ceased to be an active body, and it soon after became extinct. 
In October, of the same year, an eiFort was made to revive the interest in 
the Washingtonian plan, by organizing a new society, under the name of 
the " Pentuckct Total Abstinence Society," but it proved to be short 
lived. 

The same year, another of the so-called "secret," societies was intro- 
duced into the town. September 4th, "Mutual Eelief Lodge" of the 
"Independent Order of Odd Fellows" was instituted, and on the 17th of 
October, the hall over the lecture-room of the Centre Congregational Society, 
on Vestry Street, was dedicated to their use. The new order took vigorous 
root, and flourished for several years. It is still living, and by means of 
its brotherly aid in sickness, and the liberal appropriations from its fund 
to the " widow and orphan," is quietly difi'using its genial influence to no 
small extent. 

In August, of the same year, a new burial ground was laid out on 
the north, and immediately adjoining, the first one laid out in the town. 
It was purchased by a company, and was dedicated April 2 1st, 1846, 
under the name of " Linwood Cemetery." It was tastefully laid out and 
embellished, and is now among the neatest and pleasantcst places of the 
kind in New England. 

The wide contrast between the neat and orderly appearance of the new 
cemetery, and the neglected and dilapidated condition of the old burying- 
ground immediately adjoining it, naturally excited a desire to see- the 
latter improved and cared for. In this improvement, as ii*the case of 
the old common, the ladies were the most active and zealous workers. 
Foremost among them were Mrs. (Jeremiah) Stickney, and Mrs. (Rufus) 
Longley. Enlisting the aid and sympathy of others, a levee was held 
April 10th, 1845, which proved highly successful; contributions were 
solicited, and freely bestowed ; and in the course of the next two years, 
more than one thousand dollars was raised and expended in beautifying 
and improving that ancient burial-place. A neat granite monument was 
erected to the memory of the beloved Eolfe and his family ; the old wooden 



HISTORY OF HATEEHILt. 519 

fence in front was exchanged for one of iron, and that upon the sides gave 
place to the more appropriate and durable hedge ; and every part of the 
grounds felt the magic touch of woman's hand. The homely and ancient 
name, " Burying-Ground," was exchanged for that of "Pentucket Ceme- 
tery," by which name it will ever after be known. 

In June, 1 8-1:6, the steamer Lawrence, a side-wheel boat, about one hun- 
dred and fort}' feet long, and built at Newburyport expressly for the route, 
commenced running between that place and Haverhill. She proved to be 
too large and unwieldy for the purpose, and after running two seasons, 
was sold to parties in Connecticut. June 6th, 1848, a new stern-wheel 
steamer, of the same name, also built for the Merrimack, at Waterville, 
Maine, made her first appearance at Haverhill, and the same day went up 
as far as the new city of Lawrence. This was the first and last trip made 
by a steamboat so far up the river. The intention about that time, was, 
to clear the river above this place, so as to allow light draft steamboats to 
make regular trips between Newburyport and Lawrence. With that view, 
the legislature had granted (April, 1848) an act of incorporation to 
James R. Nichols, James H. Carlton, and others of this town, under the 
name of the " Pentucket Navigation Co.," giving them the exclusive right 
to navigate the Merrimack, between Ha-verhill and Lawrence, by steam- 
boats, for twenty-five years, provided they made it so navigable within 
five years. TLe only impediment to such navigation, was the rapids in 
this town, known as Mitchel's Falls, to clear a channel through which it 
was estimated would cost only about five thousand dollars. But for want 
of sufiicient inducement to warrant even that outlay, the project was 
abandoned. 

Besides the steamboats mentioned, several others ran transiently be- 
tween Newburyport and this town, at various times, from 1848 to 1854. 
Their names were, the Sarah, California, Merrimac, Ohio, C. B. Stevens, 
Narragansett, and Grace Darling. The latter was owned by Haverhill 
men, and was put upon the route in August, 1854. The opening of the 
Georgetown railroad, about this time, diverted the travel to so large an 
extent in that direction, that the steam navigation of the river was given 
up in the fall of the year last mentioned, and will never, in all probability, 
be again resumed. 

In October, 1847, a society was organized in this town, under the name 
of the " Fraternity of Shenstones." The object of the society, was, to 
provide means for setting out and taking care of " ornamental trees, in 
the streets, squares, and other public places in the town." Isaac Ames, 
Esq., was chosen President, and Thomas M. Hayes, Esq., Secretary and 



520 HISTORY OF HAVERniLL. 

Treasurer. The fee for membership was one dollar per year. The name 
was adopted in honor of an English gentleman, who, many years 
before, labored zealously for a similar purpose in his own country. Through 
the exertions of the Shenstones, many hundred trees were from time to 
time set out, which have already become a beautiful " ornament " to moro 
than one street in our village. A large share of the credit which justly 
belongs to that society for their thoughtfulness, good taste, and large suc- 
cess, is due to the efforts of its originator, and first Secretary. Though 
long since laid beneath the sod, the beautiful trees he planted, and watched 
with so much tenderness and interest, will long remind us that he lived 
not in vain. 

The subject of a Town House, or Town Hall, began to be agitated soon 
after the town found itself obliged to hire a place for its meetings, in 
1828. In May, 1831, a meeting was called for the special purpose of con- 
sidering the matter, but the town voted not to build. Two years later, a 
committee was chosen to see about a site for such a building, and the prob- 
able cost, but nothing definite was done, and the next year the committee 
was discharged. At the annual meeting in 1835, the town voted to build 
a Town House, and a committee was chosen to sec about a site, &c. Two 
years later, a proposition was made to purchase the Christian Union 
Chapel, on Washington Square but it was not accepted. Another two 
years came and went, and the subject of building such a structure again 
came before the town, but was indefinitely postponed. Here the matter 
rested until the annual meeting in 1847, when the town voted to erect a 
suitable building for their use, on the " south part of the Harrod lot, so 
called," at an expense of eight thousand dollars. A steeple was to be 
placed upon the building, provided a clock and bell were provided by priv- 
ate subscription. A plan was presented and agreed upon, for a building 
seventy-six feet long, forty-two feet wide, and twenty-six feet high above 
the cellar. The latter was to be seven and one-half feet deep in the 
clear. The work was immediately commenced, and the building com- 
pleted early in the following year. Though the town adopted a plan, with 
the express understanding that parties had offered to erect a building 
according to that plan for $8,000, the actual sum expended was $16,382.44. 
The clock and bell were purchased as proposed, — by private subscrip- 
tions, — and the proceeds of a public levee. 

At the annual meeting in 1848, the town voted to allow the county the 
free use of the hall for the County Courts, if the latter should be removed 
from Ipswich to Haverhill. It was also voted that the hall should be 
kept exclusively for the use of the town, except that it might be let " for 



HISTORY 01" HAVERHILL. 521 

sucli lectures or meetings as shall in the best judgment of the Selectmen 
have a tendency to improve the morals and intelligence of the citizens." 
Subsequently, the selectmen were invested with the full control of the 
hall. 

At the same meeting, a committee was chosen to appear before the Gen- 
eral Court in aid of the petitioners for a railroad from Newburyport to 
Bradford.-' It was also voted that future town meetings should be warned 
by publishing the warrant in each of the newspapers in town two weeks, 
and posting a copy in the office of the town clerk. This has continued to 
be the practice to the present time. At the same time a committee was 
chosen to superintend the laying out of the Common, and the setting out 
of trees. f The hay-scales w^re ordered to be removed from the Common, 
and they were accordingly transferred to their present location. A safe 
was purchased for the better protection of the town records ; and the first 
two books of the records were ordered to be copied. The latter task was 
performed in a most faithful and beautiful manner, by Mr. Josiah Keely. 

At the same meeting, a proposition was made for the town to pay the 
difference between the cost of a five-inch and an eight-inch iron pipe, from 
the Eound Pond to the top of the hill on Main Street, — The Acqueduct 
Company being about to re-place the old logs with an iron pipe of the for- 
mer diameter. The subject was referred to a committee, who subsequently 
reported in favor of the town's paying the difference between a five and a 
sja;-inch pipe, which was agreed to, and the present six-inch pipe was 
accordingly substituted. 

In December, (18th) of the same year, a town meeting was called to 
consider the expediency of placing a restriction upon the keeping of dogs. 
It was voted that dogs should not run at large without a muzzle, and the 
town clerk was authorized to pay one dollar for every dog killed, not so 
muzzled, provided no man was to be paid for killing his own dog. This 
regulation proved to be too stringent for practical execution, and, Decem- 
ber 30th, another dog meeting was held, when the above vote was re-con- 
sidered. J 

c The committee were Alfred Kitredge, J. H. Duncan, W. R. Whittier, Rufus Longley. and Caleb 
Hersey. 

t The committee were Wm. Taggart, J. H. Duncan, AVm. Merrill, Wm. D. S. Chase, and Thos. N. 
Chase. 

X Gov. Banks, in his annual address to the General Court, in 1860, ventured the opinion, that there 
were more dogs than sheep in the State of Massachusetts. We are inclined to believe that the estimate 
is a reasonable one ; and also that their extermination would be a positive blessing to the State. The 
loss of a single life by hydrophobia, now fearfully common, will more than outweigh the good done by all 
the dogs in the Commonwealth in a generation, 

66 



522 ITISTORY OF nAVERHILL. 

In 1848, " Primrose Lane" waa widened and straightened, and elevated 
to the dignity of a street ; and in the following year, Emerson, Vestry, 
and Cross Streets, were formally accepted by the town. 

We have already alluded to the erection of a small school-house on 
"Washington Street, in 1838. In 1843, the school was changed to a Gram- 
mar School. In 1845, the building was enlarged by the addition of 
twenty feet in length, but the rapid growth of that section of the village 
soon outstripped even that liberal addition, and, in 1849, the building was 
removed, to give place to the present neat and substantial brick structure. 
The present school building is thirty-eight by sixty feet, and two stories 
high. The first floor is used for a primary, and the second for a grammar 
school. The cost of the building was upwards of three thousand dollars. 
The school was for several years in charge of Luther Emerson, of this 
town. It is now under the eflicient direction of Mr. J. B. Smith, to whose 
earnest efforts we are largely indebted for its present excellent standing. 
The old school building was subsequently removed to White Street, near 
Portland Street, where it is still occupied for a jgrimary school. 

There were at this time in the district five primary, and four grammar 
schools, besides the High school. The amount paid by the district for 
their support in 1848, was $3,164,86. The average weekly cost per 
scholar, based upon actual attendance, was, nine cents and four mills for 
primary; fifteen cents for the grammar; and thirty cents for the High 
school. 

In the early part of 1850, the small-pox broke out in the western part 
of the town, and for a time raged fearfully. It was confined principally 
to the northern part of the West Parish. In School District No. 2, there 
were between thirty and forty cases, several of them fatal. The loathsome 
disease was introduced into the parish by a young lady, on a visit from 
Boston. 

About this time, the town began to make large appropriations for its 
Eire Department. We have already noticed the organization of the de- 
partment, in 1841. In 1843, the town voted to build a house for the 
hook and ladder company ; in 1848, a new engine was purchased for com- 
pany No. 1, and a new engine house was built for them the next year ; 
in 1849, the old engine of company No. 4 was exchanged for a new one, 
and a new engine was purchased for company No. 2; in 1851, a new 
machine was procured for company No. 3, and a new and commodious 
house erected for their use. At the same time, it was voted to pay the 
firemen, (or, as they were then called, " engine-men,") five dollars each, 
annually, and twenty-five cents per hour each, for labor at fires — alarms 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 523 

to be considered as one hour each, if the engine was taken from the house. 
In 1853, the selectmen were authorized to sell the engine house on Pleas- 
ant Street, (about midway between Fleet and Winter Streets, on the south 
eide,) " and the three Fire Engines therein." Other and liberal expendi- 
tures have beon made from time to time for the purchase of machines, 
buildings, &c., until we now have a fire department, which, for character 
and efficiency is second to that of no town in the Commonwealth. There 
are now four companies, ■ — three in the central village, and one at the 
Eocks' Village, — each supplied with excellent machines, and commodious 
buildings for their exclusive accommodation. Besides these, we have a 
•"Hook and Ladder Company," (organized in 1860) well supplied with 
appropriate carriages and materials, and the occupants of a fine building, 
erected for their special use, on Fleet Street. 

At the annual meeting in 1852, the town voted to place the highways 
of the town under the general superintendence of one person, who was to 
be appointed by the selectmen. This plan proved to be decidedly unpop- 
ular, and after one year's trial it was abandoned. 

In 1853, the town appropriated $300 toward the expenses of celebrating 
the Fourth of July. This, we believe, is the only instance in which such 
an appropriatipn has been made by the town ; the usual course having 
been to raise money for the purpose by private subscription. 

The same year, the streets of the village were for the first time lighted 
by gas — a gas company having been previously organized in the town, 
and in successful operation.'-'' 

At the annual town meeting in 1854, the following preamble and reso- 
lutions, oflFered by Hon. J. H. Duncan, were adopted : — 

" The Inhabitants of the Town of Haverhill, in annual Town Meeting 
assembled, having seen with mingled emotions of surprise, indignation, 
and grief, that a provision has been introduced into the bill creating the 
Nebraska Territory, designed to repeal that section of the Act, known as 
the • Missouri Compromise,' by which slavery was forever prohibited in 
all that part of the territory acquired from France, North of 36° 30', ex- 
cept that contained in the limits of the State of Missouri, and that the 
same has passed one House of Congress ; do, in the exercise of their rights 
as Freemen, solemnly and earnestly protest against the passage of that 
provision ; 

Because, it is an uncalled for and unnecessary violation of a solemn 
compact, made as a condition of the admission of Missouri as a slave 
state, which has been held sacred for thirty-four years ; 

o The gas works of the company are located on the south side of Winter Street, adjoining Little River, 
and on the east side of the latter, . 



524 HISTORY OF IIATERIIILL. 

Because, it is a flagrant breach of faith with the free states, by whicli 
the slave states, having secured their part of the compact, woixld deprive the 
free states of their rightful share of its benefits ; 

Because, it is a gross departure from the policy of the founders of the 
Eepublic, which was to limit and restrain, with a view to its final extinc- 
tion, and not to foster and extend, slavery ; 

-Because, the passage of this provision will destroy all faith in compacts 
and compromises made in Congress, on the subject of slavery, and while 
it justifies the friends of freedom to take all measures, not forbidden by 
the Constitution, to curtail and restrain slavery, and the slave power, it 
invites, and, without cause, provokes renewed and interminable agitation, 
which will threaten the permanency of the Union. Therefore 

Jicsolved, That the measure above referred to is not demanded by the 
people of the United States ; it is a violation of a compact which ought 
to be held sacred and inviolate ; that it tends to destroy confidence in 
public faith ; is fraught with alarming evils and puts at hazard the integ- 
rity and stability of the Union : 

Resolved, That a copy of this preamble and resolutions, signed by the 
moderator, and town clerk, be forthwith transmitted to Hon. N. P. Banks, 
the Eepresentative of this disti-ict, to be by him presented to Congress, 
and that he be requested to use his efibrts to defeat the passage of this 
odious and unjust provision." 

At the same meeting the town voted to prohibit all dogs from running 
at large, unless collared and muzzled, and the inspector of police was 
instructed to kill all not so provided. The act of the Legislature, estab- 
lishing a Police Court in the town, was formally accepted at the same 
time. 

In 1855, the subject of a town High School again came up for consid- 
eration, and a committee was chosen to make arrangements for that purpose. 
The result was, that the Academy building, which had been used by 
District Xo. 1, for that purpose, was hired by the town, and a town High 
School regularly established.'--' 

During the summer of 1856, the Winter Street School building was 
erected, at a cost of nearly % 1 8,000. It is a substantial, well-proportioned^ 
and convenient structure of faced brick, two stories in height, about eighty- 
five feet in length, and sixty feet in width. It contains a spacious hall — 
occupying one-half of the second story, where the several divisions assemble 
for devotional and general exercises — six rooms, occupied by two primary, 

o The academy building was purchased by the diatrict in 1814 for $3,000. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 525 

two intermediate, and two grammar departments, (with seats for three 
hundred and eighteen i:)upils,) and each fitted, within the school-room, and 
under the eye of the teacher, with closets for the clothing of the children, 
(an excellent arrangement, yet it is believed the only one of the kind in 
the State,) — and is every way well adapted to the pui-poses for which it 
was intended. The school was organized in August, 1856, from the 
material of the Centre and Winter Street Grammar Schools, and placed 
under the charge of its present excellent teacher, Mr. E. H. Hammond, a 
native of this town, then principal of the Centre Grrammar School," with 
at first only three assistants ; but the wants of that portion of the district 
made it necessary, during the second and third terms, to occupy all the 
rooms. The dedicatory services were impressive and interesting. The 
address at the dedication was given by the Secretary of the Board of 
Education, Ex-Governor Geo. S. Boutwell. 

This school, though not furnished with " o//the modern improvements," 
is well provided with suitable and serviceable apparatus for thorough and 
successful instruction. By the efforts of the principal and his assistants, 
aided by the noble and generous cooperation of the parents and friends 
of the school, it has been furnished with a very superior toned i^iano, and 
one of Copley's large sized sixteen inch globes; and also, by vote of the 
district, the present season, (1861) with a splendid set of Pelton's outline 
maps. The school is organized upon the same general jdan as that of 
School Street, with a principal and five female assistants, each occupying 
a different room, and conducting their classes over certain consecutive 
steps in their education, under the general supervision of the principal. 

The fourth of July, 1856, was celebrated in this town by a procession — 
composed of th^ military and fire companies, Masonic and other so- 
cieties — an oration, by Hon. Charles W. Upham, of Salem, in the Centre 
Church, a dinner, and fire-works in the evening. 

The same year. Locust, Grand, Orchard, Walnut, and Vine streets were 
formally accepted by the town, and Kent street widened and stiaightened.f 
The year following, (1857) Jew street felt the magic touch of the widen- 
ing and straightening process ; and. all the school districts (fourteen in 
number) were re-bounded. But local improvements did not by any means 
stop with merely straightening streets. The town voted that in future 

o The old Centre school-house is now occupied for a primary school. 

t Chestnut street was accepted in 1853, at which time White street was widened and straightened. 
The nest year (185i) High street was widened and straightened. In 1855, Little River bridge was 
rebuilt, and Washington square thereby greatly enlarged and improved. 



526 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

the Town Hall shall not be leased on Saturday evenings " for theatrical 
or Negro concert purposes." 

The salaries of the town officers for 1858, were as follows: Moderator,, 
ten dollars ; town clerk, fees ; treasurer, one hundred dollars ; collector of 
taxes, three hundred and fifty dollars ; selectmen, three hundred and fifty 
dollars ; assessors, three hundred and twenty-five dollars ; overseers of 
poor, one hundred and seventy-five dollars ; general school committee, two 
hundred and seventy-five dollars ; inspector of police, fifty dollars ; audi- 
tors, twenty-five dollars ; pound keeper, ten dollars. Tor the information 
of those who come after us, we should, perhaps, add, that the same person 
now usually fills the several offices of town clerk, treasurer, and collector 
of taxes. The sum^ paid to the several boards of officers is usually 
apportioned among the individual members of each, by the respective 
boards, in proportion to the labor individually performed. 

The same year, Merrimack street was paved, from Main street to 
Washington square ; and the year following. Water street was paved, as 
far as Green street. One year later (1S60) the paving of Water street 
was continued as far east as School street. 

In 1859, the town appropriated one hundred dollars for the purpose of 
setting out shade trees in the town. The sum was divided among the 
several highway districts. 

So rapid was the growth of the town in population in the ten years 
preceding the date of which we write, that continual complaint was made 
that it had already outgrown its town house. The subject continued to 
agitate the public mind of the town, until, in 1859, it culminated in a 
proposition to build a new one. A committee was thereupon chosen to 
consider the subject, obtain estimates, plans, &c., and report. The com- 
mittee consisted of James H. Duncan, Kobert G. Walker, A. A. Sargent, 
Moses D. George, Orenzo T. Emerson, James F. Gile, Elbridge W. Chase. 
At the next annual meeting, the committee reported a recommendation 
that the town purchase the Wingate estate, (next north of the town house) 
with a view to the erection of a larger building upon the old site at some 
future time. The recommendation was adopted, the estate purchased, and 
the committee were instructed to report a plan and estimates for a new 
building. January 7, 1861, the committee reported a plan, which was 
adopted, and measures were at once taken for the erection of a new build- 
ing.- 

° The plan adopted was drawn by John Stevens, architect, of Boston. The contract for the erection 
of the building was awarded to Messrs. Carleton & Sargent, of this town. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 527 

At the time of writing (July 1, 1861) the old building has been levelled, 
and the foundation of the new structure nearly completed. The following 
extract from the committee's report will give an idea of the general plan 
of the new town house :. — 

" The plan approved is for a building of brick, faced on the front and 
ends — ornamented with freestone, (or perhaps with iron, if found much 
cheaper) one hundred and fifteen feet in length, and sixty-seven and a 
half feet wide, with a tower on the front, south of the main entrance, 
eighteen by eighteen feet square, for the clock, bell, and dressing rooms, 
connected with the stage ; and a smaller tower north of the main entrance, 
fourteen and one-half feet square, with a staircase to the stage, clock, and 
also to the attic of the building. The principal entrance will be through 
a vestibule on the front between the towers, and there will be also an en- 
trance at the north end into the main_^ corridor. The basement may be 
entered on a level from Court street, will be ten feet high, and will afford 
ample accommodations for market stalls and a large grocery store. 
• The first or principal floor will be divided into rooms thirteen feet high, 
on each side of the entry or corridor, which is twelve feet in width, for 
the various town or city officers, police court room, town agency, &c., or it 
may be thought expedient for a time to omit some partitions, and thus 
leave a hall on this floor, for exhibitions not requiring the large hall above. 
It is proposed to light all parts of the building with gas, to warm it by 
furnaces in the basement, and to convey water where it may be needed. 
Tire-proof safes to be constructed for the safe keeping of the town records 
and papers. 

The hall is designed to be twenty-eight feet high, to be entered by 
staircases at each end, thus affording very convenient entrance and egress. 
Kooms are designed at each end of the hall, and galleries over them. It 
is proposed to have the stage or platform on the front side of the hall, 
chiefly occupying the space over the vestibule, between the towers, and 
projecting about five feet into the hall, thus bringing the entire audience 
nearer a speaker, who can be seen from any part of the floor and galleries. 
The hall is estimated to seat nine hundred and fifty persons on the floor, 
and four hundred and fifty in the galleries ; in all, fourteen hundred 
persons. 

It is proposed to use the spacious attic for an armory, should it be 
' wanted for that purpose, and it will afford a room seventy-five by thirty 
feet, may be well lighted, and easily accessible by the staircase in the 
small tower, and sound may be prevented by back-plastering between the 



528 HISTORY OF riATERIIILL. 

floors. In the judgment of the committee, it is desirable to provide all 
accommodations which will give an income to the town. It is proposed to 
cover the roof and towers with slate, and tin, where slate cannot be used ; 
to have copper gutters, and to protect the north coving with a covering of 
iron. Your committee consider the design and arrangement of the building, 
which, in some respects, are novel, as highly convenient, and superior to 
any similar building within their knowledge. 

The estimated cost of the building, according to the designs, providing 
for ornamenting all the exterior with New Jersey freestone, for preparing 
the foundations, cementing the bottom of the basement, and for completely 
ventilating the building, as carefully cast by practical men, is forty 
thousand one hundred and twenty-five dollars ; but, to provide for contin- 
gencies, is placed at forty-two thousand dollars." 

Among the note-worthy incidents of the year ISoQ, should be mentioned 
the improvement of the beautiful point of land at the Great Pond, known 
for many years as the "Fish House Lot," and the formal re-naming of 
that beautiful sheet of water. 

Many yeai's ago, a number of the citizens of Haverhill united in pur- 
chasing of the proprietor, a perpetual right for the citizens of the town to 
use the pleasant point of land near the north-eastern extremity of Great 
Pond, as a place of summer resort for parties of pleasure. A convenient 
wooden building was erected on the land, and the place became known as 
the " Fish House Lot," and was a popular place of resort for many years. 
But, in course of time, the building fell into decay, and at last was 
destroyed by incendiarism, and the grounds were neglected, and but little 
used for the original purpose. 

The acknowledged want of a suitable place of resort for picnics and 
chowder parties, and the convenience of location, natural beauty, and, 
above all, the memories of " auld lang syne " that clustered around the 
" Fish House Lot," again directed attention to it as the place most desirable 
for the purpose ; and in the summer of 1858, a few persons called a 
meeting, upon the grounds, of all interested in the subject. Above one 
hundred persons were present. Elbridge G. Eaton, Esq., was chosen 
chairman, and George H. Hoyt, secretary ; and after remarks by several 
gentlemen, Eufus Slocomb, Esq., who had become proprietor of the grounds, 
subject to the privileges before mentioned, proposed to make over his 
interest to the citizens of Haverhill and Bradford, for the nominal sum of 
one hundred dollars, on condition that it should be forever kept as a place 
of free resort to the citizens of these towns for social festivities. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



529 



By a tinanimous vote, the liberal offer was accepted, and a committee 
was chosen to solicit subscriptions, purchase and put the grounds in order, 
make such improvements as they should deem advisable, and report at a 
general meeting to be called by them in one year. On motion of Gr. W. 
Chase, it was voted that the land should be purchased by subscriptions 
not exceeding one dollar each, and a subscription pajjer for that purpose 
was opened on the spot. 

On the 31st day of August, 1859, the committee called a meeting at 
the grounds of all interested in the matter, which was. attended by about 
two hundred persons. The Chairman, James H. Carleton, Esq., reported 
that the land had been purchased, about two hundred and fifty trees set 
out, a substantial fence erected, the grounds graded, and a convenient stone 
building (twenty by forty feet) erected, at a total expense of about eight 
hundred and fifty dollars, of which they had received nearly seven hundred 
dollars in individual subscriptions. 

The committee also reported a plan of organization for the preservation 
and improvement of the grounds. The report was accepted, and a body 
immediately organized under the name of " The Kenoza Lake Club," and 
its officers elected. 

The organization of the Club was followed by an old fashioned fish 
chowder, with the usual festive accompaniments. =■= 



» The following beautiful poem, by John Gr. Whittier, to whom had been entrusted the honor of select- 
ing a new name for the pond, was read upon the occasion : 

KENOZA. 



As Adam did in Paradise, 

To-day the primal right we claim ; 
Pair mirror of the woods and skies, 

We give to thee a name ! 

Lake of the Pickerel ! Let no more 
The echoes answer back " Great Pond," 

But, sweet Kenoza, from thy shore 
And watching hills beyond; 

And, Indi.an ghosts, if such there be. 
Who ply unseen, their shadowy lines, 

Call back the dear old name to thee 
As with the voice of pines. 

The paths we trod when careless boys, 
With manhood's shodden feet we trace; 

To friendship, love and social joys 
We consecrate the place. 

67 



Here shall the tender song be sung, 
And Memory's dirges soft and low, 

And wit shall sparkle on the tongue. 
And Mirth shall overflow. 

Harmless as summer-lightning plays 
From a low, hidden cloud by night— 

A light to set the hills ablaze, 
But not a bolt to smite. 

Kenoza ! O'er no sweeter lake 

Shall morning break, or noon-cloud sail, 
No lighter wave than thine shall take 

The sunset's golden veil ! 

And, Beauty's priestess, thou shalt teach 
The truth, so dimly understood, 

That He who mad e thee fair, for each 
And all designeth good ! 



530 HISTOKT OF HAVERHILL. 

A few days subsequently, the grounds were dedicated, and the beautiful 
body of water formally christened as '' Kenoza Lake,'' with appropriate 
cercmonies.f 

Early in the year 1860, the shoemakers of Lynn, Haverhill, and other 
shoe-manufacturing towns, engaged in a movement the object of which 
was to free themselves from real or fancied oppression, on the part of the 
manufacturers, by establishing and maintaining a more remunerative list 
of prices for the various kinds and qualities of work. The movement 
commenced with private and public discussions, and was soon followed by 
a regularly organized " strike " in the principal shoe-manufacturing towns 
in the State. In this town, upwards of six hundred shoemakers bound 
themselves not to work, except at prices fixed upon by a committee of 
their own selection. Side by side in the movement were to be seen those 
who for years (and when they joined in the strike) received prices which 
easily gave them from two dollars to four dollars for six to ten hours' 
labor, and those whose unskilled hands could scarce secure them the above 
sums per week. Many of the first class engaged in the movement through 
mere love of excitement, and ambition to lead, while the latter were de- 
luded with the idea that they were ill-paid for their skill and labor, that 
they were the victims of a sort of petty despotism, and that "plenty of 
work and good pay " were sure to follow if they but rose in their might 
and demanded that "capital should no longer control labor." 

As might have been anticipated, the whole movement was a failure, and 
after a few weeks of excitement, idleness, and no little dissipation, the 
bubble burst, the strike was abandoned, and business soon resumed its 
wonted channels! It cannot be doubted that most of those who joined in 
the movement returned to their labor wiser if not better men. 

t The festivities closed with the following soDg, written fur the occasion, by Geo. W. Chase: — 

From north and south, from east and west 
We've come with willing feet; 

And hire again with hearty zest, 
Our dear old friends we greet. 
Chorus — Our dear old friends we greet, my A-icnd8,Ao. 



Old friends, old friends, we meet again, 

Where oft we met of ym e ; 
Again to b;!ghtcn friendship's chain 
By sweet Kenoza's shore. 
Chorus — By sweet Kenoza's shore, my friends, 
By sweet Kenoza's shore ; 
Again to brijirhten fi-iendship's chain 
By sweet lv.enoza'!> shore. 



Onr early friendships here wc O'vra, 

Though wide our lots are cast; 
Long yens have not our love outgrown; 

We'll ne'er forget the past. j Aq^ y^^j. ^y year, till life shall cease, 



It never shall be said with truth. 
That now our hearts are cold ; 
The love that warmed them in our youth. 
Shall warm them still when old. [<tc. 

Chorus — Shall warm them still when old, my friends. 



Chorus — We'll ne'er forget the iiast, my friends, &c. 



Our hearts are warm as when of yoro 
Our songs asccndcl here ; 

And here by sweet Kenoza's shore, _ 

We pledge to memoiy ilear. ] We'll meet in love and part in peace 

Chorus — We pledge to memory dear, my friends, &c- 1 By «weet Kenoza's shore.. 



And earthly joys be o'l 
We'll meet in love, and part in peace, 
By sweet Kenoza's shore. 
Chorus — By sweet Kenoza's shore, my friends. 
By sweet Kenoza's shore. 



HISTObY OP HAVE&HILt/. §31 

ta 1859, iPourth, Huntington and Cedar streets were accepted; and in 1861, 
Linden, Franklin, John, Harrison. Washington avenue, Beacon, Temple 
and Duston streets were accepted, and Moore and Dow streets straightened 
and widened/-' In January, 1861, Fleet and Court streets were also for- 
mally accepted by the town. For the information of those not familiar 
with the usual modern custom in the laying out of new streets, we should, 
perhaps, add, that, in nearly every instance, new streets in New England 
villages are first laid out and graded by the owners of the adjoining lauds, 
for the purpose of opening a way for the sale of house-lots, and it is 
Usually several years from such laying out before they are formally accepted 
by the town as public highways. 

* The work oh the latter has as yet only b«M» done on paper. 



532 niStORY OF nAVERHItl^ 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



THE MANtTFACTUBE OF SHOES AND HATS — IMPROVEMENTS^ 



The first shoemaker in this town was clouhtless Andrew Greeley, whc 
came here in 164G, and some of whose descendants still reside here, and 
are engaged in the shoe business. From the above date until within the 
present century, shoemaking was confined almost exclusively to the wants 
of our own community. Shoes were not made up in quantities, and kept 
on hand for sale, like most kinds of goods tit the present day ; much less 
were they manufactured for foreign consumption. The time is almost 
within the memory of persons now living, when it was the common custom, 
outside of the villages, for shoemakers to " whip the stump; " ie. go from 
house to house, stopping at each long enough to make up a year's supply 
of shoes for the family. Farmers usually kept a supply of leather on 
hand for family use, and in many cases they were their own cobblers. 
Sometimes a farmer was also the shoemaker for the whole neighborhood, 
and worked at the latter employment on rainy days, and during the winter 
season. 

In villages, the " village cobbler," or shoemaker, gi-adually came to 
keep a little stock of leather on hand, and to exchange shoes with the 
farmers, tanners, traders, and others, for produce, leather, foreign goods, 
&c. In this village, as late as 1794, there is said to have been but two 
shoemakers, Mr. Eobert Willis remembers being in the shop of Enoch 
Marsh, in that year, when the latter was making a pair of shoes for Capt. 
Benjamin "Willis, — of the privateer brig Betsey — between the soles of 
which a layer of gold pieces were placed. The precaution proved to have 
been timely, as the brig was captured the same voyage. 

In course of time, storekeepers began to keep a few shoes on hand for 
sale. This naturally grew out of the barter system of trade, then so com- 
mon. They bartered with the shoemakers for their shoes ; bartered the 
shoes with the back country farmers for produce ; and then bartered the 
produce for English and "West India Goods. 

In August, 1795, Moses Gale, of this town, advertised that he had 
♦' several thousand" fresh and dry hides, which he would exchange for 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. • 533 

shoes, and would give credit until the shoes could he made from the same 
hides. This is the earliest authentic information we have found of what 
may be called a loholesale shoe business in the town. From this time, the 
manufacture of shoes began to increase quite rapidly. 

Among the earliest to engage in the manufacture of shoes, were IMoses 
and James Atwood, who also kept a store in the village. During the war 
of 1812, the first named sent a waggon load of shoes to Philadelphia, on 
which he realized a handsome profit. These must have been about the 
first shoes sent in that direction.'" David How was also one of the first to 
encourage their wholesale manufacture. He is thought by some to have 
been the very first to send shoes to the south, in large quantities. He was 
for some years the largest manufacturer in town. Wesley Balch is said to 
have been the first one to manufacture roan shoes. If so, he must have 
commenced previous to 1814, as in that year we find " ladies' black Moroc- 
co shoes, with heels ; ladies' colored Morocco shoes, with heels ; and ladies' 
colored and black sandals, with heels; for sale by Chase & Cogswell," in 
this town. Amos Chase, who lived where J. B. Spiller now resides, made 
"roan ties" about 1810. He manufactured only what himself and one 
or two apprentices could make. They were spring-heeled, and without 
any stiffening at the heel. There were no pegged shoes made at that time. 
A few pegs were made by hand for pegging heels together. • At that time 
no regard was paid to the sizes, or to the number of pairs in a case. 
Leonard Whittier was one of the first to put up regular sizes in each case. 

Aroet M. Hatch was in the shoe business here in 1812. Mr. Hatch 
was a native of Ashby, but was brought up in the family of Deacon 
Balch, of East Bradford. He married a sister of Paul Spofford, of George- 
town, and soon after went with the latter to Salem, X. H., where they 
commenced the manufacture of shoes. After carrying on the business at 
that place about a year, they returned to Haverhill, and commenced in 
the Bannister block, as Hatch k Spofford. This was about 1817. 

Phineas Webster was one of the earliest, if not the very first, who made 
the wholesale manufacture of shoes his sole business. He commenced 
about 1815. At first, he exchanged most of his shoes in Danvers, for 
Morocco and leather. The Danvers tanners and curriers packed their 
shoes in barrels, sugar boxes, tea chests and hogsheads, without regard to 
sizes or qualities, and shipped them to Philadelphia and Baltimore, where 



" Mr. Atwood subsequently removed to Philadelphia, and founded the first wholesale shoe house in 
that city. 



§34 * HISTORY 6F HAVERHlLt. 

they were exclianged for a variety of produce, &c. On arriving at these 
ports, the vessels would be visited by crowds of people, to trade for shoes. 
The captain would thereupon hoist up his barrel or sugar box of shoes, at 
once converting the deck of his vessel into a retail shoe shop, and "dicker 
off" his stock. Mr. "Webster is still engaged in the business, in connection 
with his son. Samuel Chase came to Haverhill in 1815, from Portsmouth, 
N. H., where he had kept a custom shoe shop. He has from that time to 
the present year (1860) been one of our most extensive shoe manufactur- 
ers, as well as most worthy and respected citizens. Warner Whittier was 
in the business as early as 1818, and probably earlier, and was for many 
years one of the most extensive manufacturers in the place. His son, and 
successor, "Warner E. Whittier, Esq., is still in the business^ 

In January, 1818, Thomas Tileston, who had been engaged in the print- 
ing business in this town, removed to New York City, where he received 
large consignments of shoes and hats from the manufacturers in Haverhill, 
and established, in connection with Paul Spofford, one of our Haverhill 
shoe-manufacturers, one of the largest, if not the largest, shoe houses in 
that city. 

Eliphalet Xoyes manufactured in the Bannister Block in 1820. His 
shoes were all made in his own shop, and were mostly " women's run-round 
ties," black and colored. 

Thomas Meady was in the business here in 1817, at which date, it has 
been estimated, there were probably about two hundred shoemakers in town* 
Meady sent many of his shoes to Eichmond, and Norfolk, Va. 

James Noyes came here in 1820, at which time Moses French was man- 
ufacturing sale shoes, where Haseltine's store now stands, on Water street; 
and Eben Chase carried on the business where Hunking's block now standsv 
Jesse Harding was then the only Morocco dresser in town. The father of 
Mr. Noyes made shoes when the fashion was "picked toes, and wooden 
heels." 

Daniel Hobson commenced the business in Bradford, in 1824, and re- 
moved to Haverhill in 1828. He made mostly men's heeled pumps, with 
strap and buckle. " Hobson' s pumps " were for years a standard article^ 
Mr. Hobson is still in the business. 

John Poilonsbee manufactured shoes near the bridge, in 1826. He af» 
terward went to Philadelphia, where he engaged in the shoe trade. 

David P. Harmon commenced the business in 1826, and with the excep* 
tion of a few years, has continued it to the present time. 



HISTORY OF HAVEEHILt. 



535 



In March, 1832, there were twenty-eiglit shoe manufacturers in. the 
town, viz : — 



Jacob Caldwell-' 
Caldwell & Pierce 
Anthony Chase-' 
Tappan Chase'--' 
Samuel Chase 
Charles Davis 
Benjamin Emerson, 2d 
Jesse Emersonf 
Samuel George 
Joseph Greelj 



Gubtal & Haseltine 
Harmon & Kimball 
Moses Haynesf 
Caleb Hersey 
Keely & Chase 
Eichard Kimball 
Oliver P. Lake'-' 
Thomas Meady 
James Noyes 
Peter Osgood 



Page & Kimball 
Daniel S. Perley 
Samuel Eussell| 
Job Tyler 
Isiah Websterf 
David Whitaker§ 
Whittier & George 
John Woodman 



Of the above, at least sixteen kept " English and West India Goods " 
at the same time. (Cash was a very small part of the price paid for mak- 
ing the shoes.) 

Prominent among the causes of the somewhat sudden increase in the 
manufacture of shoes, are to be found, first, the finishing of goat, kid and 
sheep skins in the form of Morocco, and, second, the invention of turned 
shoes. The first Morocco used in this town came from Danvers and New- 
buryport. The first Morocco dresser in town, was Jesse Harding. The first 
turned shoes made in this vicinity, were made by a " tramping jour," who 
learned the art in Philadelphia. He was hired in Charlcstown, by James 
Gardner, of Bradford, for whom he worked long enough to allow others to 
secure the grand secret. His shoes excited a great deal of curiosity at 
the time, and large numbers of persons went to see how they were made. 
The introduction of these light, neat, cheap and comparatively durable 
shoes, in place of the heavy styles then in common use, seems to have 
given a decided impulse to shoe manufacturing in this town,*and from that 
time the business rapidly increased, until it became the principal, and 
almost the only manufacturing business in the town. 

In 1818, Mr. Eufus Slocomb commenced the regular running of a two- 
horse " baggage waggon " between Haverhill and Boston, for the transpor- 
tation of freight. The enterprise proved a success, and he was gradually 
obliged to increase his freighting facilities, until, about 1835, he kept 
about forty horses, and two yoke of oxen constantly employed in the busi- 
ness, and his large covered wagons almost literally lined the road from this 



•» Eftst Parish. t West Parish. J Pond Street. § North Parish. 



536 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 



town to Boston. The largest freight he ever transported in one day, was 
in the spring of 1836, when he had full loads from this town for forty-one 
horses and eight oxen. 

Of the amount of business done by Mr. Slocomb previous to 1824, we 
have no definite data ; but the following table gives the number of trips 
made, and the number of cases of shoes transported by him, from this 
town to Boston, from that year to 1836, inclusive, and also the number of 
tons of return freight : — 



To Boston. 


From Boston. 


Years. 


Trips. 


Cases. 


Tons. 


Lbs. 


Tons. 


Lbs. 


1824 


98 


2197 


144 


617 


172 


1312 


1825 


103 


2805 


161 


184 


168 


1419 


1826 


102 


29G3 


1G9 


1930 


254 


1014 


1827 


95 


3057 


177 


731 


144 


1518 


1828 


96 


4177 


200 


434 


228 


116 


1829 


99 


5158 


253 


229 


233 


1326 


1830 


104 


7008 


350 


538 


273 


929 


1831 


103 


9474 


456 


1020 


400 


427 


1832 


103 


11039 


507 


908 


426 


729 


1833 


103 . 


10966 


543 


819 


400 


117 


1834 


95 


12037 


547 


206 


638 


1925 


1835 


103 


19096 


860 


1219 


696 


1627 


1836 


114 


26955 


909 


532 


946 


180 




1319 


116932 


5288 


1367 


4984 


639 



In March, 1837, there were in town forty-two shoe manufacturers, and 
fourteen tanners and leather dealers. The following is a li'st of their 
names : — 



SHOE MANUFACTUKEES. 



George & Whittier, 
John Woodman, 
Charles Hazeltine, 
James Noyes, 
Peirce Emerson & Co., 
Benjamin Emerson, 
Emerson iS: AVest, 
Nathaniel Currier, jr., 
Fitts & Itoberts, 
Marsh & Hutchinson, 
Brickett & Noyes, 



George W. Lee, 
Eoswell Farnum, 
Anthony Chase, 
J. & N. S. Fuller, 
Charles Davis, 
John C. Tilton, 
Johnson & George, 
Charles G. Grimes, 
James Grimes, 
Benjamin Buswell, 
Harmon Kimball & Co. 



Samuel Chase, 
AVhittier & Swett, 
John Kelly & Co., 
Kcely, Chase & Co., 
Moses Nichols & Co., 
Abel Page, 
Bradley »& HeTsey, 
Pecker & Brickett, 
Daniel Hobson & Co. 
Ingalls & Johnson, 
Richard Kimball, 



UIBTORY OF HAVERHILL. 537 

Tappan Chase, Samuel George, Samuel Spiller & Son, 

Jesse Simonds, William Hoyt, Jolm S. Webster, 

Joseph Greely, Elbridge Souther, Cornelius Jcnness. 

TANNERS AND LEATHEE DEALEES. 

Hersey & Whittier, Ward Brickett, Blodgett & Head, 

1'klwards & Harding, L. & C. Worthen, William Burgin, 

Hayes & Pemberton, John Woodman, Aaron Gile, 

Thomas Harding, Nathaniel Currier, Eufus K. Knowles. 

Eichard K. Wheeler, Edmund Kimball, 

Of the sixty names included in the above list of shoe manufacturers, 
we believe but twenty-one are now engaged in the same business ; and of 
the tanners and leather dealers, we believe but two (Caleb Hersey and J. 
D. Blodgett) are in the business at the time of writing, (May, 1861). 

The shoe manufacturers in West Bradford (now Bradford) at the same 
time, were 

Josiah Brown, William Day & Co., Guy Carlcton, jr., 

Leonard Johnson, J. P. Montgomery & Co. Pressey & Eletcher. 

Samuel Heath, Ordway & AVebster, 

Kimball Farrar, Leather Dealer. 

Of these, only Messrs. Johnson, Heath, Ordway, and Farrar, are still 
in the business, — all of whom are now in Haverhill. 

Tlie financial " panic" of 1837, was especially disastrous to the manu- 
facturing interests of this town, and many of its best citizens fell victims 
to the reverses which followed. It was a serious blow to Haverhill, and 
it was upward of ten years before it fairly recovered from the shock. 

The discovery of the gold fields of California, and the rapid settlement 
of the Great West, by opening new markets for the various kinds of man- 
ufactured goods, gave a fresh impulse to the manufacturing interests in 
Massachusetts, and in this prosperity our town was a full sharer, as its 
rapid gTowth in population, wealth, and business, fully proves. 

In 1857, there were in the town upward of ninety shoe manufactories, 
eighty-two of which were located in the central village. Besides these, 
there were eighteen inner sole and stifi"euing manufactories. In 1859, the 
number of shoe manufactories in the village was ninety. In 18C0, there 
were in the town, according to the returns of the assessors, ninety-eight 
shoe factories, and two boot and shoe factories. Of these, nine were situ- 
ated in that part of the town known as Ayer's Village. 

The following table, prepared from the books of the Boston & Maine 
Eailroad Co., gives the number of cases of shoes forwarded by them from 
68 



538 HISTORY OF lIAVEItllltl,. 

Haverhill in 1850, 1855, and 18G0. The table does not include the large 
number forwarded over the road in passenger trains, in the care of the 
Express : — 



Years. 

18.50 
185.5 
1860 



Jun. 

6.532 
5700 
4444 



Feb.! Mar. 

5207 4205 
7086 6609 
726417278 



Apl.lMay 

2812 1956 
3899 3288 
623613202 



June 

2746 
;j-555 
3969 



July jAug Sept 



7083i4811 

8016J9249 

10708ll0718 



3720 
5400 
7468 



Oct.|Nov|Dec.|Total. 

2516!l725j2359 46,272 
34491 183311900 5.9,984 
3983ll633l 953l67,856 



To the above number for 1855 should be added about seven thousand cases 
sent by express, making in all, for that year, about sixty-seven thousand 
cases. In addition to the number for 1860, should be added about ten 
thousand cases forwarded by express, (in passenger trains) and about sixteen 
thousand cases forwarded via Georgetown." This gives a total of ninety- 
three thousand eight hundred and fifty-six cases, which wc believe to be 
very near the actual number manufactured and sold in that year. Esti- 
mating them to have averaged fifty-five pairs per case, and to have sold 
for an average of forty dollars per case, and we have for that year a total 
of five million one hundred and sixty-two thousand and eighty pairs, val- 
ued at the large sum of $3,754,240. 

The quality of the goods manufactured in this town has kept pace with 
the increased manufacture, and we have no hesitation in saying that, in 
this particular, as well as in respect to styles and variety, our manufac- 
turers are not behind those of any other place in New England. 

"VVe would gladly have closed this brief sketch of the rise and progress 
of the shoe manufacture in our town, by the announcement that the busi- 
ness was still in a healthy condition, and our manufacturers reaping 
abundant rewards for their enterprise and skill. But the fact is other- 
wise. The "panic of 1857," against which our manufacturers stood up 
with almost unbroken front, had hardly allowed business to resume its 
wonted channels, and the restoration of commercial confidence, when the 
southern "Secession," with its long train of deplorable results, over- 
whelmed the whole country. While we are writing, (July, 1861) a deep 
financial gloom covers the entire business prospects of our town. Business 
is almost totally suspended, and an unwonted stillness reigns in our 
streets. Close upon the heels of broken state faith, has followed indi- 
vidual repudiation, distress, and financial ruin. It -is estimated that the 
manufacturers of this town now hold upward of half a million of dollars 
in protested notes, from which but a small percentage will, in all proba- 



O The exact number of cases transported 1)y this raikoad from December 1, 1809, to March 20, 18G0, 
■was eighttcn thousand ouc hundred and twenty-four. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILI,. 539 

bility, ever "be realized. More tluan one who expected ere long to be able 
to pass tbe remainder of his daj's in pleasant retirement from active busi- 
ness, has seen the bright hopes of long years dashed to the ground, and 
their place taken by grim visions of grey-haired poverty. The full effect 
of this sad reverse in the business of our town, cannot now be foretold, 
but that mtiny years must intervene before it will return to its previous 
financial condition, is too evident to admit of doubt. 

The manufacture of hats has been carried on in this town to a consider- 
able extent for about one hundred years. The first hatter of whom we 
have found certain mention, was Jonathan Webster, in 1747, though 
we very much doubt if he was the first man who followed that trade in 
the town. Many of our readers will remember Mr. Daniel Appleton who 
carried on the business in the village in 1800, and earlier. He erected 
the building recently torn down to make place for the new stores now being 
erected by Mr. Le Bosquet, on the corner of Main Street and Mechanic's 
Court. The building was erected especially for his business, and the 
whole of the second floor, and a part of the first floor, was occupied by 
him for a . hat factory. Mr. Appleton's father, (Daniel) and also his 
grandfather, (Samuel) were hatters. Daniel, senior, carried on the busi- 
ness, at the place already mentioned, for many years, when he was suc- 
ceeded by his son. 

A Mr. Ladd was engaged in the business here for many years previous 
to 1800, at which time he was quite an old man. His shop stood on the 
site of the brick building next south of the Town House. Nathaniel 
Marsh was also engaged in the business about the same time. He occu- 
pied the building recently removed from the site of the new brick block of 
Messrs. "VYadleigh & Eaton, which building he erected for his hatting 
business.-' These had all discontinued the business previous to 1805. 

In 1815, Nathan AVcbstcr, who learned his trade of his brother, Jona- 
than,! set up the business in the building now occupied as a dwelling 
house by Andrew Johnson, on the southeast corner of Moore and AVater 
Streets. At first he employed two apprentices, but gradually extended 
his business until he furnished employment to upwards of twenty journey- 
men, six to eight apprentices, and twenty girls. He built the two large 
brick buildings on the east side of Green Street, (now changed to dwell- 



« The old TjuiUling now stands on the wharf, in the rear of Tilton's Building, a few rods southwest of 
its original site. 

t Jonathan learned his trade of Stephen Webster, who died in the Almshouse, in 1859, at an advanced 
flge. 



i»40 niSTORT or nAVERniiL. 

ing houses) and was for a time one of the largest mamafacturers in New 
England. In 1835, Mr. Webster formed a copartnership with his brother 
David, who had also can'icd on the business in town since 1818. 

The first manufacturer of hats in the West Parish, appears to have been 
Isaac How, (a brother of the late David How) who married the widow of 
I'earley Ayer, and soon after commenced the business, near the foot of 
Scotland Hill. Mr. How was succeeded by his sons, Phineas and Isaac, 
each of whom canned on the business quite extensively for many years. 
Phineas purchased the old grist mill at the outlet of Creek Pond, which 
he converted into a hat factory. It is still used for the same purpose. 
Isaac, Junior, was one of the largest manufacturers of his time, making 
at one time from forty to fifty dozens per day. (This was about 1835.) 

Among the first to learn the trade of the first named Isaac How, was 
John Ayer, his son-in-law, who afterward set up the business for himself, 
near " Clreenleaf 's corner," about one mile east of the present Ayer's Vil- 
lage, where he carried on the business for several years. In 1801, Mr. 
Ayer removed to the place lately occupied by his son-in-law, Jonathan 
Crowell, at Ayer's Village, where he continued to carry on the business 
for many years. Mr. Crowell learned his trade of Mr. Ayer, whose 
daughter he married, and succeeded him in the business. Mr. Ayer at 
one time employed four journeymen and four apprentices, which was con- 
sidered a " great business " for one man to carry on. 

Mr. Crowell continued to carry on the business for upward of forty 
years, and until his death, in 18G0. Among those in his employ at the 
time of his death, were Mr. J. B. Merrill, who had been in his service, as 
apprentice and journeyman, for thirty-four years ; and Mr. Amos Saun- 
ders, who had worked for him nearly forty years. At the time of his 
death, Mr, Crowell, iq connection with his son, Calvin W., and his nephew, 
Edwin F. Ayer, (a grandson of the first named John Ayer,) 4inder the 
style of Jonathan Crowell & Co., was manufacturing about eight hundred 
dozen hats per month, averaging in value about six dollars and fifty cents 
per dozen, and giving employment to about fifty persons. 

John Ayer, son of the fii*st named John, carried on the business at tlic 
above named village for many years, where he still resides, though retired 
from active business. 

Among the firms now engaged in the business at the above place, are 
Ayer & Brothers, grandsons of the first named John Ayer. They give 
employment to about thirty persons, and manufacture about four hundred 
and fifty dozen hats per month. The only other establishment of the kind 



HISTORY OF HAVERniLI. 541 

in that village, is that of John A. Houston & Co., who employ ahout fif- 
teen persons, and turn out about two hundred and fifty dozen hats per 
month. 

Besides the above named persons, the following have been engaged in 
the business in the West Parish, since the business was first introduced : — ■ 

Gleason, Lewis Bailey, Eben Mitchel, Moses Lull, Jonathan and 

Timothy Emerson, Stephen and Captain Joseph ^Yebster, Stephen Eun- 
nels, Joseph and Jonathan Webstei*, and most probably others whose 
names have not reached us. 

The hats made by Isaac How, John Ayer, and others, in the West 
Parish, were of wool, and in nearly the present general style of common 
wool hats. They were carried to Boston, Salem, and other places, for 
sale, on horseback. Subsequently, Mr. How had a pair of wheels, with 
shafts attached, which he used for the purpose. One or two boxes of 
hats were hung below the axle, while the driver mounted a rude seat above, 
and thus jogged to market, with no little pride. Mr. How's wheels were 
for several years the only ones of the kind in the town, and his cotempo- 
raries in the business frecjuently borrowed them to carry their own goods 
to market. The next improvement in the way of transportation, was the 
introduction of horse-carts. In 1804, there were but two of these in 
town. These were owned by Ezekiel Hale and Daniel Appleton. The 
common quality of hats, which were called " Negro hats," sold for five to 
six dollars per dozen. Ladd, Appleton, and Marsh, made mostly "fur 
beaver" hats — i. e., made of the fur of the beaver. Besides these, they 
made raccoon and muskrat hats, principally for farmers, and common 
people, for every day use. The best fur hats cost about seven dollars 
each, and were intended to last a lifetime. A man usually purchased one 
with his wedding coat, and in most cases he never had occasion to replace 
it. It was only worn to meeting, and on great and special occasions. It 
was put on and taken off by carefully taking hold of the buttons which 
held the turned-up rim, and from Sabbath day to Sabbath day again, with 
the exceptions mentioned, rested unmolested upon its own particular peg 
in the " front entry." 

The style of fur hats made seventy years ago, were rounding tops, about 
five inches high, with rims six inches wide. From this the crown gradu- 
ally extended to nine and a half inches, and the rim as gradually dimin- 
ished to one and a quarter inches. At the same time the top of the crown 
gradually enlarged, until it was two inches larger than the bottom. This 
was the narrow rimmed bell-crowned hat of forty years ago, and even 
later. 



542 HISTORY or nAVEnniLL. 

About 1820, Lieutenant Parker Grcenough; of this town, made some 
hats, with pasteboard bodies, covered with cotton plush. These did not 
"go well," and were superseded bj silk hats, which were introduced soon 
after. The first silk hats made in this town were finished by Nathaniel 
Carlcton, then in the employ of David Webster. Carleton learned the 
art in Danvers. The first lot of the new hats was finished on Saturday 
afternoon, and every one (fourteen in all) was sold the same evening, and 
duly appeared at church the next day. 

Xathan AVebster made large numbers of "napi:)ed" hats. Some of 
these were fur bodies, napped with beaver ; and others were muskrat naps 
on wool bodies. The quantity of beaver used in napping varied from one 
to two ounces per hat. The process of napping was invented by a man in 
Baltimore, and has been but little known in any other country. The in- 
troduction of silk hats, which have never been made to any great extent 
in this town, has finally almost driven the old fur hat out of existence, 
and but very few are now made or worn. 

The only wholesale hat manufactory in the central village at the present 
time, is that of Messrs. How & Mitchell, on Fleet Street." This firm 
occupy the whole of the large four stoi-y brick building erected for their 
use, by James H. Duncan, Esq., giving employment to about one hundred 
persons, and have for several years manufactured an average of seventy- 
five dozen hats per day, valued at an average of seven dollars per dozen. 
The material of their hats is wool, which has almost entirely superceded 
the more expensive fur.f Of these they manufacture nearly one hundred 
different styles and qualities, suited to the wants and tastes of nearly 
every class of people, from Nova Scotia all around to Oregon. 

As many and great changes have been made in the general appearance 
of the town — particularly that part of it included in the First Parish — 
during the last quarter of a century, by the erection of new buildings, 
the laying out of new streets, and other improvements, perhaps we cannot 
more fittingly close this, the last chapter of our general history, than by 
giving a brief sketch of the more prominent of these changes and impwve- 
ments. 

Some idea of the growth of the central village may be judged by the 
fact that it now contains upward of twelve hundred dwelling houses, and 

• e Mr. (P. B.) IIow is a son of Phineas, and a grandson of Isaac How, both of whom were extensive 
hatters. Mr. (Ebon) Mitcheli is a son of Ebon, — also a hatter. 

t Almost the onlj- fur hats now made are those known as " soft felt." These, and wool hats of similar 
styles, arc now the most common business hats worn; while the stiff and glossy black silk hats (not in- 
aptly nicknamed "stove-pipe" hats) are the fashionable dress hats of the present time. 



HISTORY OF IIATERHILL. 543 

aoout one liimdrccl and fifty stores and manufactories. One hundred and 
six of the latter are of brick, — nearly all of them in blocks, of two to 
six stores each, and of three and four stories in height. The south side 
of Merrimack Street, from the Great Bridge to the Little Eiver Bridge, 
presents a nearly unbroken line of handsome three and four story brick 
structures, mostly occupied for shoe manufacturing purposes. The north 
side of the street presents a similar view from Main Street to the " Sal* 
tonstall Place." "VTest of the latter, and immediately adjoining, there is 
a single brick block of two stores. The several streets on " Baptist Hill " 
show comparatively few vacant lots for building purposes. But the most 
important improvement in this section of the village, has taken j^lace on 
the estate of the late Captain Nchemiah Emerson, situated between AVinter 
Street, How Street, and Little Eiver. This estate was laid out for building 
purposes in 1844, since which time ninety-six handsome dwelling houses 
have been built upon it. The district included between the Merrimack 
and Little Eivers, and Winter and Main Streets, now contains one hundred 
and sixty dwelling houses, and eighty brick and twenty-six wooden stores, or 
manufactories. Between Little Eiver, Pecker's Hill, Mount Washington, ='■' 
and the Merrimack, there are one hundred and sixty-five dwelling houses, 
one brick and two wooden stores. Xorth of Winter Street, and between 
Little Eiver and a line running northwesterly from the southerly end of 
White Street, there are one hundred and sixty-seven dwelling houses, at 
least nine-tenths of which have been erected within about twelve years. 
Between Main, White and AVinter Streets there are ninety-six dwelling 
houses, seven-eighths of which have been built within twenty years, and 
probably three-quarters of those within the last twelve years. North of 
AVhite Street, and between the north-westerly line, above mentioned, and 
Main Street, there are now seventy-two dwelling houses, all but one of 
which have been erected since 1850, and nine-tenths of which have been 
built since 1855. , This gives us a total of eight hundred and sixty dwell- 
ing houses, and one hundred and forty-one stores, west of Main Street, 
exclusive of shops, barns, and other out-buildings. 

Passing to the east of Main Street, we find, between Main, Summer and 
Mill Streets, and the Eiver, one hundred and ninety-one dwelling houses, 
twenty-five brick and seven wooden stores ; and to the north of Summer, 
and between Main and Mill Streets, eighty-four dwelling houses. Easterly 
of Mill Street are about twenty dwelling houses. 



° The name given to the bluff, or table land, lying between the railroad and Silver's hill. It was 
handsomely laid out into streets and house-lots, in 1S53, and now contains twenty dwelling houses. 



bii UISTORY OF IIAYERUILL. 

AVitbiu the above described limits are also clcvcu cburcbes, viz : — tlie 
Unitai-ian, corucr of Main and Crescent Street; Centre Congrefjutianal, 
corner of Main and A'cstry Streets ; First Baptist, corner of Merrimack and 
Pecker Streets ; First Universalist, corner of Summer Street and Bart- 
lett's Avenue ; South, (Christian Union) corner of Washington Street 
and AVashington Square ; Wi7iter Street, (formerly Union Evangelical, 
now Free AVill Baptist) corner of AVinter and Franklin Streets ; Taberna- 
cle, (formerly Second Advent, now occupied by Kev. Henry Plummer,) 
on Tabernacle Street ; Trinity, (Protestant Episcopal) corner of AYhite and 
AVilliam Streets ; St. Gregory (Catholic) corner of Harrison and Lancaster 
strc>tJts ; Methodist Episcopal, AVinter street, near Main Street ; and the 
North Church, (Orthodox Congregational) corner of Main and AVhitc 
Streets. The following religious societies hold regular services, but arc 
not provided with church edifices : — The Randall Free Will Saptist, 
meeting in Randall Hall, on Duston Street; the Second Advent, meeting in 
Athcnjxjum Hall, (Duncan's Building) ; and the Tldrd Baptist, worship- 
ping in Music Hall, AVinter Street, near Spring Street. 

The whole number of church edifices in the town at the present time, 
is sixteen, viz. : eleven in the First Parish, two in the East Parish, (one 
at the Ptocks' Alllagc) ; and three in the AVcst Parish, (one at Ayer's 
A'^illage) . This does not include the Plaistow, or North Parish church, 
which is situated a few rods north of the State line. 

The following table, showing the date of erection of the principal blocks 
of stores in the central village, is not without interest, as illustrating the 
recent rapid growth of the village : — 

How & Carleton, (Main Street) 1794 Tilton Block (cor. Fleet St.) 1852 

AVillis Block, (Water Street) 1811 Duncan & Carlcton,=:;' 1852 

Merrimack Bank, 1814 l']xchange Building, 1854 

Bannister Block, 1815 Marsh Block, 1854 
AVhite's Corner Block, 1808 Essex Block, • 1 85 G and 1859 

AVoodmau's Building, 1824 Franklin Block, 1856 

Bank Building, (Alain Street) 1831 Masonic Hall, 1856 

Haseltine's Building, (AVater Last Factory, (Fleet Street) 1857 

Street) 1836 Chase's Block, 1857 

Granite llange, 1836 Til ton's Block, 1857 

Kittrcdge Block, 1840 Hat Factory, (Fleet Street) 1857 

Currier's Block, 1849 AA^hittier Block, 1858 

o This was one of the very first full iron front buildings erected in the State. 



fiiSTORY OF HAVERHlLli. 54:5 

Osgood's Block, 1821 and 1833 Haverhill Bank Building, 1859 

Kimball's Building, 1850 Brickett Building, 18G0 

Hunkings & Duty, 1851 Mackiue Shop, 18G0 

Manufacturers Eow, 1850 and 1852 Lebosquet Block, 1861 

Passing out of the central village, we find comparatively few changes 
calling for special notice. Near the junction of the Salem, N. H., and 
Derry roads, (a short distance west of the summit of Pecker's Hill) a 
large number of house lots have been laid out, about a dozen houses 
erected, and the locality christened " Mount Pleasant." Three and a 
half miles further west, we come to " Ayer's Village," the most busy and 
thriving locality, outside of the principal village, in the town. The village 
proper (a part of which lies in the town of Methucn) contains about thirty 
dwelling houses, nine shoe manufactories, three hat manufactories, a new 
and commodious school-house, and a new and well-finished church. The 
part of the village included in Haverhill, contains about sixty legal voters. 
The principal shoe manufacturers in the place, are Phineas Haynes and 
Amos Hazeltine, who commenced the business in the winter oft 1852— 3i 
They give employment to about seventy-five persons each. In October, 
1855, Mr. Haseltine opened the first store in the place. A second store 
was opened in 1857, by Monroe Ayer, who also erected a fine hall over 
his store for public meetings, &c. A pleasant, as well as somewhat re- 
markable fact connected with this thriving village, is found in the close 
relationship of its inhabitants. We believe that not only is every busi- 
ness man in the place a native of the immediate vicinity, but they are all 
more or less intimately connected by the ties of consanguinity. Long may 
they live together, as now, a " band of brothers." 

The North and East Parishes show but few external changes within the 
past quarter of a century, beyond the occasional erection of new dwelling 
houses, and the removal of old ones." It is only when we enter the 
dwellings and enquire for those who dwelt there but a score of years 
agone, that we feel the full force of time's great but silent changes. 
Not one in ten of the familiar faces of twenty years ago, will be found 



" We should, perhaps, make special mention of the enlargement of the old burial-f:round near tho 
Rocks, — its re-naming, as Greenwood Cemetery, — and the erection of a neat iron fence in front of 
the same, in 1850. These improvements were mostly made by the ladies of the vicinity. In 1850, a 
large and handsome two-story wooden building was erected about midway between tho Second Baptist 
Church and the village, for school purposes. The cost of the building was about $2,000. 

69 



646 HISTORY OF HAVEUUILL. 

to-day ; not one in ten of the fair fields now yield their increase to the 
same hands that tilled them then. And so it will he, kind reader, with 
each returning score of years ; while you and I can claim no exemption from 
the ceaseless change. A few more suns, — how few, 'tis not for us to know, 
— and we shall moulder in our parent dust. Happy will it he for each 
of us, if, when the summons calls us hence, we can say of the great 
work of life — 

"IT IS FINISHED." 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 547 



CHAPTEK XXIX. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 



Previous to the erection of the northern part of the town into a sepa- 
rate precinct, or parish, in 1728, the whole town was virtually one parish, 
and matters that are now left entirely with each parish, or religious society, 
were then considered and disposed of in the toion meetings, and the record 
of such action then became a part of the Town Records. Having incor- 
porated the vital parts of these records into the preceding chapters of our 
history, we shall endeavor, in considering the Ecclesiastical history of the 
town, to avoid a repetition, as far as is consistent with the accomplishment 
of our present object. 

The earliest records of the church still preserved, is "A list of ye 
names of Persons, adults and infants, Baptized in Haverhill Church By 
Benjan Eolfe Pastor; " and is in the handwriting of Mr. Eolfe. It ap- 
pears to have been originally a book made by simply stitching together a 
quire of foolscap paper, and was afterward, with others, bound into one 
volume. The first entry in the book, is the baptism of " Hannah, ye 
daughter of AVilliam & Sarah Whittaker," September 24, 1693. Then 
follows the names of three hundred and two others, closing with the bap- 
tism of Elizabeth, daughter of Piev. =" August 22d, 1708, — just 

one week before Mr, Eolfe's violent death by the savages. There are no 
other records of the church, during or previous to this time, now pre- 
served. Mr. Eolfe's successor (Eev. Joshua Gardner) commences his 
record with the following entry: — "Anno Dom : 1711. A list of ye 
names of persons admitted to partake of the sacrament of ye Lord's Sup- 
per wth the church of Christ in Haverhill. Since the Eevd Mr Benjan 
Eolf 's Death : (It was ye 8th of April In ye above mentioned year before 
any were admitted : ye Chh yn having been not long resettled.) " 

On the page immediately preceding the above, is the following interest- 
ing statement, in the handwriting of Eev. Mr. Brown, (Mr. Gardner's 
successor) : — 

" The account of Such as were admitted to the Lord's Table in Haver- 
hil, before ye Eevd Mr. Gardner's Ministry, sic, under the first minister 

° Name illcgiWe. 



548 HiSTony or iiAVEniiiLL. 

ye Eeverd Mr Ward ; & after him the Eevd Mr Rolf ; being cither never 
set down, or else the account lost; Such of them as were alive in ye Town, 
April 1723 ; were desired to give in their names to ye Pastor then being, 
which are as followeth " 

" Deacon John White, & Lydia, his Widow Hanah Sanders (fro New- 
wife bury) 
Deacon John Hassaltine & - his Mary Webster wife of Stephen 

wife Mary Cop ye wife of Aaron Cop 

Daniel Lad & Lydia his wife Hanah Heath wife of Joseph 

AYidow Hannah Aycr, (aged 8-1) Martha Heath wife old Josiah 
AVilliam Whittaker (Newb.) 

AVidow Euth Ayer (old) Hanah' Eoberds wife of Ephrm 
Huldah AVhittaker wife of Abrr (Topsfield) 

AVidow Joanna Dow (old) AVidow Sarah Page 

AVidow Hanah Dalton Mehetable Clemen, wife of Job 

AVidow Mary Boynton Samuel Ayer & Elizabeth his wife 

Ephraim Gile & Martha his wife Hanah Jonson wife of Joseph 

Eichard Hazzen & Alary his wife Elizabeth Jonson wife of Thomas 

James Pecker & Ann his wife Anthony Colby, (Eowley) 

AVidow Euth Gile Mary Brown 

AVidow Sarah Davis Sarah Emcison wife of Benjamin 

AVidow Alary Ayer Hanah Eastman wife of Jonathan 

Nathaniel Alerril & Sarah his wife Alartha Emerson wife of Joseph 

Deacon John Alash Benjamin Stanly (of Boxford) " 

From the death of Eev. Air. Eolfe, in 1703, to April 8th, 1711, there 
were no admissions to the church. During Air. Gardner's ministry, forty- 
eight were admitted ; upward of one hundred and fifty baptized ; and 
seventeen owned the covenant. Air. Gardner died Alarch 21, 1715. He 
is mentioned as eminently distinguished for piety in very early life. At 
the age of thirteen, he became a hopeful subject of divine grace, and soon 
after began to prepare himself to preach the gospel. He entered college 
at sixteen, and graduated at twenty ; endearing himself to all who knew 
him by his correct habits and amiable deportment, and distinguishing him- 
self as a scholar and a christian. He commenced preaching at twenty-one, 
was ordained at twenty-three, and died at the early age of twenty-eight 
years. 

After the death of Air. Gardner, the church and society seem to have 
had considerable difficulty in their choice of a new candidate, and it was 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 549 

upward of four years before another pastor was settled. During this 
time, there were thirty admissions to the church. 

The only record of a regular church meeting held during this period, 
which is now preserved, is dated May 10, 1717, * when the thanks of the 
church were voted to Eev. Josci>h Parsons for his " labors with us hitherto 
in the work of ye ministry; " and he was unanimously "made choice of 
to be their settled minister." The deacons at this time were John White 
and John Haseltine.f 

Eev. John Brown was ordained May 13, 1719, and continued with his 
charge until his death, in 1742. During his ministry, four hundred and 
thirty-eight persons were admitted to the church, (thirty-two by dismission 
from other churches) ; fifty-eight adults, and one thousand and seventy-six 
children were baptized ; and three hundred and sixteen owned the 
covenant. 

That Mr. Brown was faithful in the discharge of his ministerial -duties, 
the remarkable success attending his labors sufficiently testifies. Soon 
after his settlement, an extensive religious revival commenced among his 
flock, resulting in sixty-five hopeful conversions. Large accessions to the 
church were frequently witnessed during his ministry. In November, 
1727, fifty-four persons were admitted, and in the following month fifty- 
six; making the large number of one hundred and ten, in two short 
months. 

In October, 1729, twenty-five members of the church, residents in that 
part of Methuen now Salem, N. H., were dismissed, for the purpose of 
joining in the formation of a church at that place. And in November, 
1730, a similar request was made by forty-six members, " for the purpose 
of uniting in a church state in the North Precinct," •; — which was granted. 

This brings us to the first division of the town into Precincts or Par- 
ishes, each of which will now be noticed, in chronological order. The 
subsequent divisions of the parishes into several religious societies, will be 
noticed in the same order. 



° This is, in fact, the earliest record we find preserved of any church meeting in the town ; — unless 
we consider the mere entry of names and dates of admissions to the church as records of such meetings. 
After this, we find no similar record, until January 11th, 1720-21, from which latter date we have a reg- 
ular entry of the proceedings at the church meetings. 

t In January, 1720-21, the above named desired to he dismissed from service as deacons; the former 
pleading as excuse, " his I'usiness in the affairs of State," and the latter, "his age and infirmities." 
John Mash and James Ayer were chosen in their stead. In February, 1727-8, Wm. White and Daniel 
Little were chosen, and in January, 1737-8, Nicholas White and David Marsh were chosen to the same 
office. 



550 niSTOET OF HAVERniLL. 

TuE First Parish, 

By the erection of the northerly part of the town into a separate par- 
ish, in 1728, the rest of the town became, as a matter of course, also a 
distinct parish. From this time forward, strictly parish business was 
transferred from the town to the parish meeting. The two precincts were 
designated as the " North Parish," and the " South," or " Old" Parish. 
Still later, the last named was called the " First " Parish, by which name 
the legal successor of the first church and society in the town is still 
known. 

The first regular parish meeting of the latter, was held November 24th, 
1729, by virtue of a warrant from Eichard Saltonstall, Justice. Captain 
Joshua Bayley was chosen moderator, and John Eaton, Clerk. From this 
time, parish meetings were held regularly. 

In March, 1730-1, the parish voted to "give to ye Eevd Mr Brown ye 
timber of the forte yt is about his house, to dispense of it as he pleaseth." 
This is the last notice we find of the old fort, or any other means of 
defence against the Indians. 

In November, 1731, petitions were received from persons in the easterly 
part of the town, and from others in the westerly part, praying " that 
there might be some money raised by ye parish yt they might hire a min- 
ister to preach to ym in yc winter seson, wn bad Traviling," — but the 
requests were refused. 

In 1732, the parish enlarged the burying place, by purchasing half-an- 
acre of land adjoining it. 

The health of Mr. Brown, which had been gradually failing for some 
time, had become so poor, that, in December, 1733, the parish voted to 
hire another minister " to assist Mr, Brown for three months this winter." 
The easterly and westerly parts of the town seem to have improved the 
above opportunity to again press their own claims, as we find that at 
the first meeting called to see about an assistant for Mr. Brown, " consid- 
erable discourse," and " some hard words," passed, but no vote was taken; 
while at the next meeting, the vote to hire such an assistant was immedi- 
ately followed by votes to procure, and raise money to pay, ministers for 
each of the above named sections, for the winter following. 

The success of the two wings of the parish, in securing a minister in 
each, was undoubtedly gratifying to them, and prepared them for request- 
ing still larger favors. We are not, therefore, surprised to find, that, in 
the following February, propositions were made to divide the Old Parish 
into three distinct parishes, and to build tv/o new meeting-houses ; one near 



HISTORY OF HAVJERniLL. 55 1 

the house of Nathaniel Merrill, Jr., and the other near that of Eichard 
Hazzen. It was also proposed to set off to Amesbury "West Parish, those 
living near the Amesbury line, and to the North Parish, those who could 
most conveniently attend worship at that parish. All these propositions 
were negatived. 

Four weeks later, a vote was passed to set off those living east of a line 
from Elisha Davis' to the "pond bridge," and so on by the brook to the 
North Parish Line, into a new parish. The vote was, however, dissented 
to by twenty-two persons living within the bounds of the proposed new 
parish. =•■' Then, after " gTeat Debat,"*and " some hard words," a commit- 
tee was chosen to set off a parish " at the west end of the old or south 
parish." The bounds of the latter were not settled until some time after- 
ward, — being several years in dispute. 

We have already mentioned, that Eev. Mr. Brown was a person of weak 
physical constitution. Even as early as 1720, he was for several months 
unable to preach, and the town provided a substitute. In 1733, he was 
in a "weak state of health," and from this time until 1742, his parish 
were yearly obliged to provide for the supply of the pulpit for weeks, and 
sometimes for months at a time. Consumption at last triumphed, and, on 
the 2nd of December, 1742, this faithful pastor fell asleep in the arms of 
his mother earth. After his death, the parish voted to raise one hundred 
pounds, old tenor, to defray the expenses of his funeral, which was to be 
delivered to " Madam Brown, to be used at her discretion." 

Soon after the death of Mr. Brown, an invitation to settle was extended 
to the Pvev. Edward Barnard, which was accepted, and he was ordained on 
the IGth of April following.f 

The salary of Mr. Barnard, was fixed at one hundred ounces of silver, 
or its equivalent, annually, together with the use of all the parsonaga land 
and buildings, except one lot near the river; and also " a reasonable sup- 
port & maintainance when by ye providence of God he shall be disabled 
from ye work of ye ministry, so long as he remains our minister." 

The first church bell in the town, was purchased by this parish, in . 
1748. It was imported from London expressly for them, and, judging 
from the records, its purchase and proper " Hanging" must have been a 
prolific theme for town talk. It was finally " voted to Hang the Bell on 
the top of the Meeting house, and Build a proper place for that purpose ; " 

'' Although the easterly part of the Old Parish was, by the above vote, set off, it was not legally in- 
corporated into a separate parish until 1743. For a further account of its incorporation, see chapter xx. 

t " April 16, 1743. Great Snow Storm, eleven inches on a level. Eev. Barnard Ordained." — Dr. 
Baylcy''s Journal. 



552 flISTORY OF IIAVEIlHILt. 

and " to Raise one Hundred pounds old tenor towards defraying tiie 
Charges of building the Steple, and Hanging the Bell." The belfry was 
built on the ridge of the meeting-house, and the bell-rope descended to the 
broad aisle. It was voted " to King the Bell at one of the clock every 
day and at nine every night and on Sabbaths and Lectures." The first 
bell-man, was Samuel Knowlton.^' 

The old meeting-house having become too small for the parish, the sub- 
ject of a new one began to be agitated in 1761. The house was, withal, 
so much decayed, that the bell could not be rung with safety, and it was 
therefore taken down, and hung on two pieces of timber placed crosswise 
at the top, on the hill, near the parsonage house. It was not fully decided 
to build a new house until 1705. Tor this purpose an appropriation of 
three hundred pounds was voted, to be paid in lumber. The dimensions 
of the new house were ordered not to exceed sixty-six feet in length, and 
forty-eight feet in breadth. It was erected, and mostly finished, in 1766- 
The Avhole of the gTound floor (excepting the aisles) was occupied by 
pews, which were built by the parish, appraised by a committee, and sold 
at auction. The " men's seats," and the "women's seats," were therefore, 
from this time forward, confined to the galleries. 

The house was located on the common, about midway between Main and 
Winter Streets, a little north of the foot of Pleasant Street, with the prin- 
cipal end to the northeast — or directly across the common. It remained 
standing until 1837, when it was taken down. It was set, when built, 
" at the northerly side of the old meeting-house, as near to it as may be 
convenient." It was surmounted with a steeple, at the easterly end. 
Though but three hundred pounds were appropriated for building it, yet 
we find, from a petition of Isaac Osgood, and others, to the General Court, 
in Tebruary, 1768, that more than one thousand were expended on it.f 

In 1764, the parish voted " that the version of Psalms by Tate & Brady 
with the largest impression of Dr Watts Hymns be sung in public in this 
parish. "J 

The first intimation we find in the parish records, of Baptists in town, 
is under the date of January, 17Go, when a warrant was issued by John 
Brown, a justice of the peace, for a parish meeting, " to see if the parish 

o After him, John Whitin<j performed the responsible duties of hell-man. Upon the death of the latter, 
his widow took his place, and had charge of the bell and the meeting-house for many years. She died in 
1795, in the 100th year of her age. 

t A new parsonage house was erected in 1773, " near the oM one." 

t In 1769, some alterations were voted to be made in the front gallery, '-for a convenicncy of singing." 
In 1775, the parish voted " to omit the reading of the Psalms to be sung in Public Worship." 



mSTORT OF HATEEIIILL. 553 

"vf 111 "votie Ihat any ordained or gospel minister shall or may preach in said 
meeting-house at any time when it does not interfere with the Eev Mr 
Barnard's Public Exercises."" The parish refused to grant such permis- 
sion. 

Though the Baptists are not mentioned by name at this time, it is cer- 
tain that they were the persons who made the request. "NVe first find them 
referred to as " Baptists," in 1770, when the parish chose a committee 
" to agree and settle with those persons that have brought certificates from 
the Baptist church for the time past." The next year, " it was put to 
Tote whether the parish would excuse the Baptists fit)m paying rates' for 
the time past, and it past in the negative." It was then " voted that the 
several Collectors in this parish be advised not to take Distress on the Bap- 
tists for their rates for two months from this time, but if there be no 
agreement between sd baptists and the parishes Comtee. within sd two 
months then sd Comtee shall advise sd Collectors and point out to them 
what persons upon whom they are to take Distress." 

Among those whose goods were taken by distress, to pay their parish 
taxes, was John White, who thereupon commenced a suit against the col- 
lector, to recover. The parish defended their officer, and recovered judg- 
ment against Mr. AVhite. The right of the parish to tax all who resided 
within its limits for the support of the " regular" ministry, having been 
thus established, a compromise appears to have been made between the 
parish and those who gave in certificates that they were of the Baptist 
denomination, by which the latter were eased of a part of their burden, f 

In 1774, the parish were again called to moura the death of a beloved 
pastor. In January, Mr. Barnard was gathered to his last resting-jjlace. 
His disease was paralysis. 

Eev. Edward Barnard was a son of Eev. John Barnard, of Andover, 
and grandson of Eev. Thomas Barnard, of the same place. All of them 
graduated at Harvard College — the first named, in 1736. Mr. Barnard 
was ordained in 1743, and died January 26, 1774, aged fifty-four years, 
after a successful ministry of thirty-one years. During this period he 
baptized nine hundred and eight persons ;{ married two hundred and 

" The warrant declares, tliat " whereas Samuel White, Timothy White, James Duncan, William Green- 
leaf, John White, Daniel Appleton, Dudley Lad, Benj Mooers, with upwards of thirty others," had ap- 
plied in writing, and showed that they, together with othei'S, had previously applied to the parish 
committee to call such a meeting, but had been refused ; therefore the warrant was issued. 

t In June, 1774, an act was passed, exempting Quakers, and Baptists, or Antipedobaptists, from all 
taxation to other denominations. They were simply required to file a certificate from the proper officers 
of their own denomination, to the efteet that they were members thereof, and paid taxes accordingly. 

t Between the death of Mr. Bro^Ti, and the settlement of Mr. Barnard, seven children were baptized 
ty various ministers. 

70 



554 msTOKY OP HAVERHILt. 

eleven couples ; and ninety-four were admitted to the churcli (eighteen t)y 
dismission). The number who owned the covenant, was ninety-six. Mr. 
Barnard is everywhere spoken of as a man of distinction and real worth. 
His style was flowing, his language elegant, and his sermons correct and 
finished compositions. As a pulpit orator, he was deservedly popular. 
His sermons were instructive, plain, and practical. As a companion, he 
was social and undisguised ; as a scholar, inquisitive and general ; and aa 
a pastor, watchful, affectionate, and unwearied. In his temper, he was 
uniform; in his affections, benevolent; and, in his religion, exemplary. 
Those who knew him best, loved him most. Several of his sermons were 
published, and it was at one time proposed to publish a volume of them, 
but, on the breaking out of the Eevolution, the design was abandoned. 

In his theological views, Mr. Barnard was ranked with the Arminians ; 
with Dr. Webster, of Salisbury, Dr. Tucker, of Newbury, Dr. Symmes, of 
Andover, Mr. Balch, of Bradford, and others. 

"These clergymen and others, seventy or eighty years ago," says Brad- 
ford, " gradually departed from the Calvinistic system, and forbore to urge 
or to profess its peculiar tenets, although they did not so expressly and 
zealously oppose them as many have done in later times. They also 
omitted to press the Athanasian creed, or to use the Trinitarian doxology ; 
but preferred scripture expressions on these disputed points. They did 
not insist, as a preliminary to the ordination of a young man to the chris- 
tian ministry, on his professing a belief of the Trinity, or of the five points 
of Calvinism. They required a declaration of faith in the Bible, and a 
promise to make that the standard and guide of their preaching. But 
a belief in Jesus Christ as the true Messiah, the only Mediator and Ke- 
deemer, and the pardon of sin, on repentance, by divine grace, was con- 
sidered as necessary by this class of theologians as well as by those who 
received the tenets of the Calvinistic system. They held christian fellow- 
ship with each other for some years ; but the difference of sentiments has 
produced an alienation between them, much to be regretted by the true 
spiritual christian." 

During the year 1765, and the remaining period of Mr. Barnard's life, 
repeated applications were made by individual members of his church, 
for a dismission, and a recommendation to the Baptist church, then estab- 
lished in the parish. This was peculiarly calculated to embitter and 
becloud the closing years of his life, and caused divisions in his church 
and society. He was accused of " not preaching the gospel ; " of " not 
being converted;" and many other "hard and grevious " things. But 
when, — thirty years after his ordination, and a few months before his 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 555 

deatli, — lie looked back over these " years of temptation, provocation and 
reproach," he gratefully acknowledges that " God was pleased to throw in 
a balance by the attachment of those to his person and ministry, whose 
sentiments and regards are most to be valued; " and he declares, " Noth. 
ing has been delivez'ed by me that I would not venture my own soul 
upon." 

After his death, the parish met, and chose a committee to take charge 
of his funeral ;=•' and subsequently, they voted to erect a monument over 
his grave. This is a large slab, resting upon four pillars, with the follow- 
ing inscription : 

" Beneath are the remains of the E«v. Edward Barnard, A. M. pastor 
of the first church in this town, who died Jan. 26, 1774, in the 54th 
year of his age and 31st of his ministry. In him were united the good 
scholar, the great divine, and exemplary christian and minister. His un- 
derstanding was excellent, judgment exact, and imagination lively, and 
invention fruitful ; eminently a man of prayer ; as a preacher, equalled by 
few, excelled by none ; indefatigable in the discharge of his ministerial 
duty, and possessing the most tender concern for the happiness of those 
committed to his charge. His piety was rational, disposition benevolent, 
of approved integrity, consummate prudence, gi'eat modesty and simpli- 
city of manners. He was a kind husband, tender parent, faithful friend, 
and agreeable companion. His life was irreproachable,- and death gi*eatly 
lamented by all who knew his worth. Mark the perfect man and behold 
the upright, for the end of that man is peace. 

His grateful flock have erected this monument, as a testimony of their 
affection and respect for his memory." 

After the death of Mr. Barnard, the parish were without a settled min- 
ister for upward of three years, when Eev. John Shaw accepted an invi- 

o Rev. Benjamin Parker preached soon after, as oneW his hearers, (1) and the Salem Gazette thus 
notices it : " We have just heard from Haverhill, that the Rev. Mr. Parker, having preached as a bearer 
to the r>,ev. Mr. Barnard, deceased, the people of Mr. B's parish requested a copy of his sermon for the 
press ; an,d a number of gentlemen therein were pleased, at the same time, to make him a present of a 
very handsome suit of clothes. The promoter and encourager of said affair has also presented him with 
a new wig." (2) 



(1) The custom then was, for the neighboring ministers to act as pall-bearers, when one of their num- 
ber died, and immediately afterward to supply the vacant pulpit one Sabbath each. The number of 
hearers on such occasions was usually eight. 

(2) The parish also generously allowed Mrs. Barnard the free use of the parsonage house, logether 
with a part of the land, and pasturage for a cow, until the settlement of another minister, three years 
afterward. 



556 HISTORY OF HAVERniLL. 

tation, and was ordained March 12tb, 1777.=- His salary was £I0O 
yearly, and the use of the parsonage. 

In the same year, the burying ground in the parish was again enlarged, 
by the gift of a piece of land from Colonel Joseph Badger, 

In 1790, and subsequently, the parish meeting-house is designated in 
the parish warrants as " the CongTegational meeting-house in said parish." 

Many of our readers will remember that the seats in the large, square, 
pen-like pews of the old meeting-houses, were hung on hinges, and were 
usually turned up in " prayer time," to allow the occupants a chance to 
lean against the high railing, for support, during the long prayers. And 
they will also remember the artillery-like explosions which always followed 
their turning down at the close of the prayer. They will therefore appre- 
ciate the rebuke contained in the following vote, passed in 1791 : " Voted 
that Coll James Brickett, Deacon Joseph Dodge, and Doct Saltonstall be a 
Committee to speak to the Eevd Mr Shaw that he would speak at some 
Conveuent Season unto the Peopel that they would Let their Seats Down 
without Such Nois." 

In the same year, " a pew for the women to sing " was built in the gal- 
lery of the meeting-house ; and it was voted " that the Company of Singers, 
should choose such Persons among them Selves to Lead in the Musick and 
Ecgulate the same as they shall think proper." 

After a ministry of almost eighteen years, Eev. Mr. Shaw died, very 
suddenly, September 29, 1794, aged forty-eight. The day before his 
death, he preached as usual, and was apparently in good health. The next 
morning he was a corpse. f 

Mv. Shaw was a. son of the Eev. John Shaw, of Bridgewatcr. He grad- 
uated at Harvard College, in 1772. His widow married Eev. Stephen 
Peabody, of Atkinson. She was the sister of the wife of John Adams„ 
and greatly respected for her piety and domestic virtues. Mr. Shaw is 
described in his epitaph, as " A bjjght example of benevolence, meekness, 
patience and charity ; an able advocate of the religion he professed, and a 
faithful servant of the Grod ho worshipped." 

In his system of religious faith, Mr. Shaw was Calvinistic ; in his 
preaching, evangelical ; in . temper, mild and forgiving ; and hospitable 

* Mirick says, that the reason why another minister was not settled sooner, was on account of the 
"great Uisscnsions," and "the strong; excitement which existed " in the parish; but we have been unable 
to find evidence of either in the records. During this interim, but four preached as candidates, two of 
whom received invitations to settle, and a third was desired to preach longer. 

t The parish subsequently erected suitable monumental stones to his memory. Mr. Shaw had one son, 
William Smith Shaw, who died unmarried, in Boston; and one daughter, Abigail, who married Rev. 
Joseph B. Felt, of IlamiltiJii — now of Boston. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 557 

and Ibenevolent to all with whom be had intercourse. As a man, a chris- 
tian, and a minister, he possessed the entire confidence of his church and 
society. During his ministry, he baptized one hundred and sixty-three 
children ;'■■' married one hundred and seven couples ; fifteen persons owned 
the covenant, and fifteen were admitted to the church. 

After Mr. Shaw's death, the society were destitute of a regular minis- 
try about ten months, when the church and parish, unanimously, invited 
the Eev. Abiel Abbot to settle with them. The invitation was accepted, 
and Mr. Abbot was ordained June 3d, 1795, His salary w«s £110 per 
annum, with the use of the parsonage house and lands. 

Eev. Abiel Abbot, D.D., was born in Andover, Mass., August 17, 1770, 
and was a son of Captain John Abbot, of that town. His preparatory 
studies were pursued at Phillips Academy, under the direction of the cele- 
brated Dr. Pemberton, during which time he occupied the front rank in 
his class. He entered Harvard University in 1788, and passing through 
his collegiate course with high reputation as a scholar, was graduated in 
1792 with distinguished honors. The subsequent year he spent as assist- 
ant to his brother in Exeter Academy ; and the greater part of the year 
following, as principal of the Academy at Andover. During this time, he 
pursued his theological studies with Eev. Jonathan French. In 1794, 
he commenced preaching at Haverhill, and having accepted a unanimous 
call, was ordained pastor of the First Congregational Church in this town, 
June 3d, 1795. 

His ministry here was harmonious and successful, and when, in 1803, 
he felt it his duty to ask a dismission, he received from the church and 
society the most ample testimonials of unabated love and respect. 

The cause which induced Mr. Abbot to ask for a dismission, was the 
inadequateness of his salary. He requested the parish to make an addi- 
tion of $200 per annum. As the parish did not feel able to grant his 
request, and he was led to believe that such a course was his duty, he ap- 
plied for and received an honorable dismission. 

Application for his services was soon after made by the first parish, in 
Beverly, where he was installed December 14, 1803. Here he ministered 
with success, and with little interruption, until 1818, when failing health, 
and the advice of physicians, induced him to spend a few months in a 
Southern State. He returned, in 1819, with health improved, and contin- 
ued his professional labors with diligence until 1827, when he. again sought 
a milder climate, and passed the winter in Cuba. In the following May, 

* Between the death of Mr. Barnard and the settlement of Mr. Shaw, twenty chiUlren were baptized. 



558 HISTORY OP niVERHILL. 

with higli hopes of restored health, he embarked for Charleston, S. C. He 
arrived on Saturday, preached on the following Sabbath, and the next day 
embarked for New York, On Tuesday he was taken ill, and as the yesscl 
was coming to anchor at Staten Island, on the following Saturday, he 
breathed his last, and was interred at that place. Thus, in the 24th year 
of his ministry, and the 57th year of his age, was taken to his rest an elo- 
quent, learned, affectionate and faithful minister. 

Dr. Abbot was married in 179G, to Miss Eunice, eldest daughter of 
Ebenezer Wa'!es, Esq., of Dorchester. He left, at his death, a widow, two 
sons, and five daughters. 

In the commencement of his ministry, Mr, Abbot entertained a belief 
in the Trinity, but on this subject his views altered, and the fundamental 
principles of Unitarian belief became the objects of his decided conviction. 
During his ministry forty-nine were admitted into the church, and one 
hundred and twenty received baptism. 

The dissolution of Mr. Abbot's connexion with the parish, was followed 
by five years and six months, in which the church and society were desti- 
tute of a regular pastor. Finally, in October, 1808, Kev, Joshua Dodge 
received an invitation to the pastoral office, which he accepted, and he was 
ordained the 21st of the December following, 

Mr, Dodge's salary was $500 per annum, and the use of the parsonage, 
and if he should " be rendered unable to supply the Desk," he was still 
to have the use of the parsonage, and $200 per annum, so long as he con- 
tinued minister of the parish. 

In 1809, the parish petitioned the General Court for permission to sell 
a part of the parsonage land "on the principal street," for house-lots, on 
condition that the proceeds should " be kept forever as a Fund, the inter- 
est or income of which shall be appropriated, exclusively, for the 
support of the minister, or his successors in said parish ; & be managed 
by Trustees," The request was granted, and seventeen hundred dollars' 
worth of lots were sold immediately.-' 

In the winter of 1812-13, astove was " erected in the meeting house," 
by private subscription. It was placed in the pew of Mr. John Dow. 
For some reason, the stove did not answer expectations, and, in 1815, it 
was " disposed of," Artificial heat was not again resorted to until 1821, 
when two " elegant stoves " were presented to the parish, by Moses B. 
Moody, Esq. 

« In 1820, the fund had increased to $3809.91. In 1827, it was $i509.91. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 6D9 

in 1822, Mr. Moody bequeathed to tlie " First Congregational Society," 
the munificent sum of three thousand dollars, which was to be paid them 
on the decease of his mother. 

In 1827, the parish voted to charge the town $30 per year for the use 
of the meeting-house for town meetings. This appears to be the first 
charge of the kind ; but as the parish had already furnished the town with 
a place for their meetings, without any fee, for ninety-eight years, we 
cannot well charge them with mercenary motives in the matter. 

In May,- 1827, Eev. Mr. Dodge asked for a dismission from the church 
and society, which was granted. 

Eev. Joshua Dodge was born in Hamilton, Mass., September 22, 1779. 
He received his preparatory education at Atkinson Academy, and graduated, 
at Dartmouth College, in 1806. He entered upon a course of study for 
the ministry soon after leaving college, with Eev. Abiel Abbot, then of 
Beverly. Mr. Dodge baptized about one hundred and thirty during hig 
ministry here, and about eighty were admitted to the church. 

Soon after he left Haverhill, Mr. Dodge was settled in Moultonborough, 
N. H., as colleague with the venerable Mr. Shaw, where he remained a 
useful pastor for about twenty years. 

It is with feelings of sadness that we add, that, a few years since, un- 
mistakable symptoms of insanity compelled Mr. Dodge to withdraw entirely 
from pastoral labors and responsibilities. He died at the Insane Asylum, 
at Concord, N. H., in March, 1861, aged 81 years. 

In the November following the dismission of Mr. Dodge, a call was ex.- 
tended to Eev. Dudley Phelps, of Andover, which was accepted, and he 
was ordained on the 9th of January, 1828. His salary was fixed at $700 
per annum.'' 

About this time, troubles broke out in the church and society, which 
finally led to a division and separation. As we have already seen, Eev. Mn 
Barnard in later life gradually receded from Trinitarianism, and his succes- 
sor, Eev. Mr. Abbot, was classed as a Unitarian, and it appears that a large 
number of the society, though not a majority, entertained similar opinions. 
But with such prudence and moderation had pastors and people managed the 
affairs of church and parish, that all had, previous to the settlement of Mr. 
Phelps, lived and worshipped together in comparative harmony* Mr. Phelps 
(who was a gi-aduate of Yale College, of the class of 182-1, and of Ando- 
ver Theological Seminary, in 1827) was, in respect to scholarship and 

■ ■' The use of the parsonage house andland, was not included; a large part of the land having already 
been sold, and the proceeds funded. The house was soon after, (1831) purchased by Dr. Moses Nichols, 
and is stiU occupied by him. 



560 HISTORY OF nAVEEHILL. 

talent, much above the average. In his religious opinions he was strongly 
orthodox, and he preached them in a very decided and uncompromising 
manner, lie also entered early and with zeal into the temperance and 
anti'slavery movements, and though admirably fitted for a reformer, by 
his firm and bold temperament, and his persevering energ3% yet these qual- 
ities did not so well serve to promote the work of conciliating and harmo- 
nizing a society holding adverse and conflicting sentiments. In private 
intercourse, Mr. Phelps is said to have been- eminently social, genial, and 
generous, and even playful and humorous ; but in the pulpit, his indepen- 
dence and plainness of speech often approached to bluntness, and severity. 
It is not, therefore, strange, that his preaching should have separated still 
more widely, rather than have harmonized, these conflicting elements in 
his church and society. 

In the warrant for the annual parish meeting for 1830, we find an arti- 
cle " to see if the Parish will vote to dismiss the Eev. Mr. Phelps from 
the pastoral charge of said Parish." The vote upon this article was in- 
definite postponement. •■■= 

Finding that their numbers were then insufficient to efi"ect his re- 
moval, the opponents of Mr. Phelps took measures to increase them. It 
was, at that time, the law, that every person must belong to some religious 
society in his town, and was liable to be taxed to support such society ; 
and those residents of a parish who were not duly enrolled as members of 
some other society, were, in the law, considered as members of the oldest, 
or parish society. 

This will explain the fact that soon after the difficulties alluded to com- 
menced, we first find the names of persons entered on the parigh books as 
having " become a member of the parish. Eighteen such are recorded 
in 1831. 

September 13, 1832, another attempt was made to "dissolve the con- 
nection between Eev. Mr. Phelps and the Parish," but it was defeated by 
a majority of thirteen votes. Two months later, (Xovember 8, 1832) the 
proposition was again made, and carried in the affirmative. It is an inter- 
esting fact connected with this sudden change of majorities, that between 
the last two dates, seventeen new members were added to the PaMsh — 
all of whom were Universalists. 



o It was a part of the nfjrccment between Mr. Phelps and the parish, " that at any time it should be 
thonght expedient, at a Legal] meeting, warned for the purpose, to dissolve the connexion between the 
Pastor and parish, a majority of the legal Voters present concurring, it shall be dissolved, giving hun 
three months notice he having the same privilidgc to ask a dismission." 



iriSTOKT or HAVERHILL. 661 

J'mding themselves in a minority, tlie Orthodox members soon after 
\5^ithdrew, and united in forming the "Independent Congregational 
Society," -—since called tlie " Centre Congregational Society." 

At the next annual parish meeting, a Unitarian committee was chosen 
to supply the parish pulpit. Three months later, a meeting was called 
to see if the parish would extend a call to Eev. Andrew P. Peabody (Uni- 
tarian) to settle with them. This proposition was indefinitely postponed ; 
and an addition of four (three of them Universalists) was made to the 
committee for supplying the pulpit Upon this, the previous members re- 
signed, and the meeting dissolved. A majority of the committee were now 
Universalists and the pulpit was supplied accordingly. September 30th, 
(1833) a meeting was called to see if the parish would extend an invita- 
tion to settle to Rev. J. H. Bugbee (Universalist) . Upon this, a proposi- 
tion was madp and inserted in the same warrant, to divide the funds of 
the parish " equally between the several religious societies within the terri- 
torial limits of the First Parish ; " and thereupon sufficient aid . was 
ealled in to indefinitely postpone the proposition to settle Mr. Bugbee, and 
also 'to pass votes to divide the funds as proposed, and to choose a commit- 
tee to report a plan for doing it. 

December 2d, the committee submitted a report, recommending a peti- 
tion to the General Court for a repeal or amendment of the Besolve of 
1809, establishing a Parish Fund, and of the Act of 1823, relating to the 
management of the Fund, so as to allow the parish to make the proper division. 

The report was accepted, a vote passed to divide the funds " among the 
various religious societies within the limits of said parish," and a petition 
presented to the General Court agreeably to the recommendation of the 
committee. 

April 2, 183-1, a parish meeting was called, " to see if the Parish will 
request the Eev. Joseph Whittlesey to settle with them as their minister 
and Pastor, for one year or more." Mr. Whittlesey was then, and had 
been for above seven months, settled as pastor of the " Independent Con- 
gregational Society." The apparent strangeness of the proposition is, 
however, explained by the fact that negotiations were then on foot between 
the Unitarians and the above society, to join interests, outvote the Univer- 
salists, who had now become a majority in the parish, and divide the 
parish funds equally between themselves. Before the arrangements were 
fully perfected, the Universalists offered the Unitarians their aid toward 
reinstating the latter in possession of the parish, and parish funds, upon 
more favorable terms than were about being agreed upon by the parties 
first named. The latter offer was accepted. The former petition to 
71 



562 HISTORY OF HAtERniLL. 

the legislature "vras tLercupon withdrawn ; Eev. Natliauicl Gage (Uui'- 
tarian) was settled as minister for five years ; the taxes of sixty- 
eight members of the parish (Uuiversalists) were abated ; it was " Voted 
To allow those persons about to secede from the Parish, the sum of Four 
Thousand Dollars for their interest in the Funds in the hands of the Trus- 
tees belonging to the Parish ; " the money was paid, and the Univcrsalist's 
withdrew, leaving tbe parish organization and funds in the possession of 
the " Congregational Unitarians," where they yet remain." 

In 1837, the parish society, (now Unitarian) disposed of their interest 
in the " common," and erected a new church edifice on the lot next north 
of it, at an expense of $8, TOG, 34. The new church was dedicated Decem- 
ber 6, 183C. 

Eev. Mr. Gage continued with the society until the summer of 1840, 
when he was succeeded by Eev. Nathaniel P. Folsom.f The salary of the 
latter was $800. He remained with the society until the fall of 1840. 
He was succeeded by Eev. James Eichardson, who was settled March 24, 
1847, at a salary of $700, and remained until September 27, 1850, whca 
he was dismissed, at his own request. 

On the morning of January 1, 1847, the elegant church edifice, erected 
in 1837, was totally destroyed by fire. In the following November, the 
society voted to replace it, and the present structixi-e was soon after erected, 
at a cost of $7,126,91. 

Eev. Frederic Hinckley was settled as pastor of the society, November 
9, 1850, and remained until July 9, 1853. His salary was $800. His 
successor was Eev. Eobert Hassall, who received and accepted a call to 
settle, in January, 1856, and remained with the society until 1858. His 
salary was $1,000. April 7, 1859, Eev. "William T. Clarke received 
an invitation to settle, which was accepted. His salary was the same as 
that of his immediate predecessor. Mr. Clarke is the present pastor. 

The North Parish. 
As we have already mentioned, the northerly part of the town was 
erected into a separate Precinct, or Parish, in 1728, and a meeting- 
house erected the same year. The Church was not organized, howevev, 
tmtil two years late". 

» The whole amount of the fund, in April, 1S38, was $11,296,48. The $4,000 had not as yet been 
taken from the fund. This had accumulated as follows: — Trom sales of parsonage lands, at sundry- 
times, $10,532,77; donation from "A Friend from the First Parish in Haverhill," August 2d, 1826, hy 
the hands of David Marsh, 2d, $300.00 ; interest accumulated when no minister was settled, viz; : from 
June 18, 1827, to January 9, 1828, and from January 1, 1834, to July 2, 1834, $300.00. In April, 1851, 
the fund was only $6,661.00. 

t Rev. Nathaniel Gage was a graduate of Harvard College, of the class of 1S23. He died at Cam- 
bridge, May 7, 1861, aged 60 years. . 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 563 

Wlien the New Hampsliire line was run, in 1 740, about two-tliirds of 
the inhabitants of the Parish fell to the north of the line. The portion 
which fell to the south of that line were soon after incorporated into a par- 
ish by themselves ; or, rather, the General Court declared them, to be, to 
all intents and purposes, the North Parish in Haverhill. 

The old meeting-house fell to the north of the State line, and the par- 
sonage to the south of it ; and though at first about two-thirds of the 
original parish became a part of New Hampshire, at i)resent, and for many 
years past, the membership and attendance at the old church has been 
about equal from Haverhill and Plaistow. 

In the preparation of the following account of this church, we have 
drawn largely from the excellent sketch prepared by its late pastor, Kev. 
Charles Tenney, and published in a work entitled New Hampshire 
Churches, 1856. 

The church was organized November 4, 1730, on a day of Fasting and 
Prayer, specially appointed for this pui-pose. It was originally styled the 
Church in the North Precinct of HaverhiU, Mass. It was composed of 
fifty-nine members from the First Church in Haverhill. On the 4th 
of March following, ten more were added from the First Church in 
Haverhill. 

At the above named meeting, Mr. James Gushing was invited to be their 
pastor, and was ordained on the 2d of December following. Nothing ap- 
pears to have occurred, during his ministry, which continued about thirty- 
three years, that disturbed the harmony of the church, or the comfort of 
the pastor. There was not, perhaps, what may be termed a revival of reli- 
gion, yet a good number were added to the church — one hundred and 
eixty-four in all — one hundred and fifteen by profession, and forty-nine 
by letter. The greatest number in any one year (1837) was fourteen. 
The half-way covenant practice was then in use and during Mr. Cushing's 
ministry, two hundred owned the covenant in this way, and had their chil- 
dren baptized. It does not appear, from the records, that he baptized an 
adult, on receiving members to full communion ; and this practice will 
ficcount for the great number of infant baptisms during this time, which 
was one thousand two hundred and seventy-five ;•■■= Mr. Cushing died May 
13, 1764, aged 59 years. 

Eev. James Cushing was a son of Eev. Caleb Cushing, of Salisbury, 
Mass., and graduated at Cambridge in 1725. Mr. Cushing was a solid 
and fervent preachei', prudent, steady, patient, condescending, and candid ; 

c- During his ministry, Mr. Cushing married two hundred and twenty-four couples. 



g64 HISTORY OP HATERHILL. 

and he preserved for the thirty-four years of his ministry the most nnmf^ 
fled tranquility, peace and harmony, in his society. 

On the 2r)th of October, 1772, thirteen of the members of this church, 
resident in Atkinson, were dismissed and recommended for the purpose, in 
union with others, of being organized into a church in said town. 

On the 6th of March of the year following the death of Mr. Gushing, 
Mr. Gyles Merrill was ordained pastor of the church, and died April 27, 
1801, aged 62 years, after a ministry of .about thirty-seven years. The 
number of admissions to the church was fifty-nine — forty-seven by pro- 
fession, and twelve by letter. The Eev. Mr. Merrill had a peaceful minis- 
try and was greatly respected and beloved by his people. As a preacher, 
he was orthodox in faith, of sound learning, discreet, and was justly and 
highly esteemed. 

The simplicity, kindness, and dignity of his manners, are even yet re- 
membered by many, with the greatest respect and veneration. He had the 
welfare of his people constantly at heart, and those who survive him tes- 
tify to his amiable disposition, and his devoutncss as a christian. Mr. 
Merrill was a graduate of Harvard College, of the class of 1759. Like 
his immediate predecessor, Mr. Merrill was a native of Salisbury. He 
commenced preaching in the North Parish as soon as the reverend "bear- 
ers" at Mr. Cushing's funeral (eight in number) had, according to custom, 
supplied the vacant desk one Sabbath each. 

After the death of Mr. Merrill, this church was without a settled minis- 
ter twenty-five years; and, during this time, became much enfeebled. 
The records do not show that more than eight persons were admitted to 
the church — for seventeen years not one. 

On the 26 of December, 1826, the Eev. Moses Welch, who had been 
preaching to the people as a stated supply for about two years and a half, 
was installed pastor of the church, and continued with them till the 2d of 
February 1831, when he was dismissed at his own request. There were 
admitted to the church after Mr. "Welch's installation thirty-six — three 
by letter, and thirty -three by profession, and all of these thirty-three, ex- 
cept two, were the fruits of a revival which occurred in 1827. Mr. "Welch 
baptized twenty-six children. 

On the day of Mr. Welch's dismissal, the Eev. Samuel H. Peckham was 
chosen to be pastor, and he was installed the 23d day of the same month. 
Much of Mr. Peckham's ministi-y was unquiet and unpleasant, yet in a 
very good degree successful. He was dismissed September 10th, 1838, 
having the "undiminished confidence " of the dismissing council, as " a 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 565 

good and aWe minister of tlie gospel." During bis ministry, of about 
seven years, there were added to the church thirty-one hy profession, and 
five by letter, and twenty-three children were baptized. 

Eev. David Oliphant statedly supplied the pulpit after Mr. Peckham's 
dismission. A neat and commodious house of worship was erected in 
1837, in the place of the old house, which had become wholly unfit for 
use. The new house is the property of the proprietors. Mr. Oliphant 
left in 1852, and during his ministry there were added to the church, 
seven by letter, and twenty-five by profession. Infant baptisms, thirty- 
two. 

Eev. Charles Tenney commenced his labors with this church early in 
1853, and remained its pastor until November, 1858, when he was called 
to a larger field of labor. From this time, to August 1859, the society 
were without a pastor, when Eev. Homer Barrows, then of Wareham, 
Mass., received and accepted a call to settle with them, and at once entered 
upon the discharge of his duties as a pastor. 

The West Parish. 

In 1734, the westerly part of this town, was, by the General Court, 
erected into a separate parish, or precinct, under the name of the West 
Pai'ish of Haverhill. 

The first parish meeting was held on the first day of May, of that year, 
the warrant for which was issued by Eichard Saltonstall, Esq. The meet- 
ing was held at the house of Thomas Haynes, who was chosen moderator, 
and Peter Ayer was chosen parish clerk. At this meeting, the parish 
voted to build a meeting-house, and to set it " on the southeasterly corner 
of Samuel Eatton's pasture."" The house was erected and mostly finished 
the same season. The pews (sixteen in number) were not, however, built 
until three years afterward. 

At the time the first parish meeting was held, the timber was already 
on the ground selected as a site for the meeting-house, and so rapidly was 
the work pushed forward, that services were held in the new house as 
early as October. 

The first minister engaged upon trial, was a "Mr. Googgins," who 
preached four Sabbaths. After him, a "Mr, Skiner " preached about 
two months. Mr. Skinner was succeeded by Eev. Samuel Bachellor, who 
preached with such acceptance, that (June 9, 1735,) he was invited to 
settle as their minister. 

"^ A few rods from the present house of Timothy J. Goodrich. 



5G6 HISTORY OF irAVEIiniLT,. 

The parish voted Mr. Bachellor " a sofishant hous the Bigness of Mr. 
Nathan Wcbstcrs well fincshed and a liarn of thurty feet long and twenty 
feet wid and convenancy in land parstin for cecping three cows on hos and 
teen sheep sumer and winter ; " and "one hundred and thirty pounds in 
pasabil money or Bils of Creedit and value," annually. In addition to 
the above, they voted to give " his wcdcd wife so long as she shall con- 
teeneu his widow the hool Benefet of the pasneg Cept in teenitabal 
Eepaires;" and "twenty pounds in bils of creditor pasibel money an- 
nuialy" to Mr. Bachellor, when he should be " Disanabled for cariengon 
the work of the ministry " amqng them, by old age. 

Mr. Bachellor accepted July 21st, and was ordained soon after." 

It appears that the liberal support voted to Mr. Bachellor, was a cause 
of considerable " gealosey suspishon and unciscynes " on the part of some 
of the parish, and a meeting was warned to reconsider the matter. At 
this meeting, the parish voted to give him, in lieu of the house, barn, and 
land accommodations, two hundred and fifty pounds a year, — to which he 
agreed. 

In the spring of 1736, the parsonage lands lying in the vicinity of 
Parsonage Hill, which had been given to the North and West Parishes to 
divide between them, were divided by a joint committee. The same year 
(December 6) the jn'oprietors of the undivided lands in the town, gave 
Mr. Bachellor seventy acres of land in the AYcst Parish, for his own use, 
also forty acres to the parish. In 1739, the parish voted to give Mr. 
Bachellor the use and possession of all the " parsonage lands and mead- 
ows belonging to yc AYcst Parish," so long as he should continue to cany 
on the work of the ministry among them. 

Soon after the Parish was incorporated, the commoners gave them a 
tract of land to purchase a burying-ground, and roads to their meeting- 
house. This land was sold in 1738, and in 1740 (November 25) the 
Parish " Voted Twenty- two pounds to Mr. Thomas Haynes with what he 
has already had for half an acre of Land for a Burying-place where we 
have already Bureyed Sundry of Our Dead." The spot referred to, is 
about one-fourth of a mile south of the site of the old meeting-house. 

The depreciation in value of paper money, which was an active cause in 
the troubles which broke out in the East Parish, seems also to have been a 
stumbling Ijlock in the way of the church and society in the West Parish. 
Trora time to time the parish voted Mr. Bachellor an addition to his salar}^ 
in consideration of "the fall of the present currency," In 1749, the 

o Mr. Bachellor had preached in the parish twenty-one weeks before he gave his answer. 



illSTORY OF HATERHILi. 5G7 

tiddition made was £70. At the annual meeting in 1750, tlie parisli 
" Voted not to pay the Eevd Mr. Bachellor his salary this year without a 
recicpt or discharge in full." This displeased many, and a meeting was 
called shortly after, to sec if the parish would " reconsider and disanul 
that vote," but the meeting refused to act upon the question. After con- 
siderable negotiation, the parish (December 18, 1750) voted Mr. Bachellor 
£06.13.4, in addition to what had already been paid him, in full for his 
salary from his settlement to that time. This was not satisfactory to some 
of the parish, and, failing to "Disanul ye vote," they " dissented against 
ye Illegal proceedings.""- 

In 1755, these difficulties assumed alai*ming proportions. Mr. Bachellor 
was accused of heresy, in saying that the work of redemption was finished, 
when Christ uttered the words "It is finished." This, his enemies, (led 
on by Joseph Haynes, a shrewd and fearless man, of superior, native 
talent, and quite extensive reading,) denounced as downright heresy, and 
made them the ground-work of a sharply contested controversy, which 
raged with violence for a number of years, aud finally ended in the removal 
of Mr. Bachellor, 9th October, 1761, upon terms that day recommended 
by a Council, The subject was considered by the Haverhill Association, 
and two Councils called for that purpose, who upheld Mr. Bachellor, and 
published several pamphlets defending his conduct from the aspersions of 
his enemies. These drew from Mr. Haynes, a large pamphlet, called " A 
Discourse in order to confute the Heresy, delivered, and much contended 
for, in the West-Parish, in Haverhill, and countenanced by many of the 
ministers of the neighboring parishes, viz : That the blood and water 
which came from Christ when the soldier pierced his side, his laying in 
his grave, and his resurrection, was no part of the work of redemption, 
and that his laying in the grave was no part of his humiliation." It was 
printed in 1757. This drew a pamphlet in the following year, from the 
Association and Councils, vindicating the measures they had taken, to 
which Mr. Haynes soon after replied. A Council of nine churches con- 
vened by adjournment on the 19th September, 1758, when twenty charges 
against Mr. Bachellor were laid before it, condemning his conduct and 
doctrines. The Council sat four days, and decided that they were not 
sufficiently supported. Col. John Choate of Ipswich, one of their members, 
differed from this decision and published his "reasons of dissent." The 
same Council again met in the following year, when Mr. Haynes gave 

* The dissentients were Thomas Haynes, Joseph Hascltine, Thomas Page, Joseph Hutchens, Daniel 
Lad, Jr., Peter Carleton, Jonathan Emerson, Josepli Haynes, Timothy Emerson, and William Aycr. 



568 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

them some " friendly remarks," wliicli were afterward puLlislied ; "but 
this second examination of the charges only confirmed them in their former 
decision. 

Eev. Samuel Bachellor was a graduate of Harvard College, of the class 
of 1731, and a man of superior tMcnt and attainments. During his min* 
istiy in the parish, he baptized about four hundred and fifty ; thirty-eight 
owned their baptismal covenant ; and one hundred and eighteen were 
admitted to the church. •- After his dismission, Mr. Bachellor continued 
to reside in the parish until his death. In 1769, and again in 1770, he 
was chosen to represent the town in the General Court. 

After the dismissal of Mr. Bachellor, the parish was without a settled 
pastor nine years. 

In March, 1762, Eev. Nathaniel Noyes commenced preaching in the 
parish, shortly after which, the church and parish voted " to settle upon 
Congregational rrinciplcs," and to organize the church according to the 
platform of church discipline agreed upon by the Cambridge Synod in 
1649, — " except the 11th section of the 10th chapter of that platform, 
which allows the elder a power to negative the Brotherhood." In the 
October following, the church and parish extended a unanimous invitation 
to Mr. Noyes to settle with them, but he declined. The next January the 
invitation was renewed, but without success. After Mr. Xoyes left, a Mr. 
Wheeler occupied the pulpit for a short time, when he was succeeded by 
Eev, John Carnes, 

In March, 1766, Mr. Carnes was invited to settle with the parish, but 
declined. The call was renewed April 14th, and accepted, but, for some 
reason not stated, he was not settled. 

In June, 1767, a call was extended to Eev, Joseph Willard, (afterward 
president of Harvard College) who accepted, and the last Wednesday in 
October was assigned for his ordination ; but, for reasons not given, the 
ordination never took place. 

In March, 1769, Eev. Phiucas Adams received a call by " a great ma- 
jority " of the parish, though several were so strongly opposed to his 
settlement that they petitioned to be released from paying toward his 
support. The following December the call was repeated, when it was 
accepted, and Mr. Adams was ordained January 9, 1771. He continued 
with the parish until his death, in 1801, during which time, for ought that 
appears upon the records, the society was prosperous and united. 

* The church was organized October 22, 173j, with seventy-seven members, all of whom had been dis- 
tnissed from the I'irst Parish Church for that purpose. Nathan Webster and Peter Ayer were chosen 
deacons, in November, 1735. 



HISTORY O'F HAVERHILL. 569 

&. Adams, who graduated at Cambridge in 1762, was a man of mild 
and conciliatory manners, amiable disposition, sound sense, excellent 
understanding, and extensive reading. He was not bigoted, and seemed 
well calculated to quiet a turbulent society. After his death, the parish 
met, and voted to pay all the expenses of his funeral. 

During his ministry, Mr. Adams baptized three hundred and thirty-one 
(adults and infants); sixty-nine "owned their baptismal covenant ; " and 
eixty-two were admitted to the church. 

At the first church meeting after the settlement of Mr. Adams, John 
Smith and Thomas Webster were chosen deacons. In 1782, Moses "Web- 
ster, and in 1785, Joseph Eaton, were chosen to the same office. . 

The first mention we find in the parish records of a school in the par- 
ish, is in November, 1751, when it was voted to build a school-house 
eighteen feet square, at "ye Clay pitts near ye end of the Eoad that lead- 
eth to ye house of Mr Jonathan Webster." At the next meeting, an 
effort was made to have the school-house placed in the centre of the par- 
ish, but without succss. For some reasons, the building of the school- 
house proceeded very slowly, as we find that as late as February, 1754, 
it was only partly finished, and was ordered to be removed to the east end 
of the meeting-house. The next month, a proposition was made to move 
the meeting-house and the school-house to " Lad's plain," in the " center 
of the Parish," but the proposition failed. The December following 
(1754) the school-house was yet unfinished. At this time, the parish 
voted that a school should be kept one-third part of the time at or near 
Peter Carleton's ; one-third at Stephen Webster's ; and one-third at Sam- 
uel Whitker's. It continued to be so kept until, at least, 1772. In 1774, 
it was kept at or near Jeremiah Hutchin's ; Timothy Eatton's ; and Peter 
Emerson's ; at which time, there was as yet no school-house in the parish. 
In the spring of 1791, the parish appropriated £82 for the building of 
three school-houses. One was set " westward from Thomas West's, ou 
Enoch Bradley's land ,• and one " near James Chase's." The location of 
the third one does not appear. They were all built in 1791. 

In 1792, the inhabitants of the "Eastern, on Jew street," petitioned 
for a school in their vicinity a part of the time, but the request was not 
granted. 

In 1770, the parish voted " to continue to sing Dr Watts' Psalms & 
Hymns in the congregation." This is the first allusion to singing we find 
in the parish records. One of the articles in the warrant for the annual 
meeting in 1771, was " To see if the Parish will vote a part of the Frunt 

Galary for those to sit in who Have Larnt or are Larning to Sing by Kule. 
72 



570 HISTORY OF nATERHILL. 

Either to Build a Pew or other wise as Shall he thot most proper." As 
the parish at the time voted to make extensive repairs in the meeting- 
house, no recorded action was taken about the singing ; but a pew was 
doubtess built at the time, as we find that " the Singers Pew " was en- 
larged in 1788, and again in 1794:. In 1810, the parish appropriated 
thirteen dollars toward the support of a "singing school." This, we be- 
lieve, is the earliest distinct allusion we have found, in any of the records 
or papers we have examined, of a sii\giug-school in the town, though it is 
by no means improbable that such schools were kept years before. Indeed 
the fact that some were "Larning to sing by Piule " as early as 1771, 
would seem to imply that something of the kind was then in operation."' 

In 1786, a proposition was made to jmrchase grounds for one or two 
new "burying-places." The matter was referred to a committee, who re- 
ported it inexpedient for the parish to purchase. A private subscription 
was then started, and ground for a second burying-place was purchased 
the same fall. It was located on the northerly side of the Salem, (N. H.) 
road, and near Creek Pirook.f 

After the death of Mr. Adams, the parish was without a settled minis- 
ter for twenty-five years, during which period its religious aflfairs were in 
a very unsatisfactory state. 

In 1803, a Mr. Mead occupied the pulpit for some months, and the pro- 
position was made for the parish to join with the North Parish, and hire 
him, to preach one-half the time in each parish, — but it was not agreed to. 

At the annual parish meeting, March 17, 1806, it was 

" Voted, that the Baptists, Methodists, or Universalists, who belong to 
the "West Parish, should have a right and privilege to draw out of the 
parish treasurer's hands, as much money as they pay in by taxes, — after 
allowing or deducting for levying and collecting the same, — for to hire 
such minister or ministers as they choose, provided they are of good stand- 
ing or character, when there is not a minister employed by the parish 
committee as has been usual in times past." 

The above continued to be the practice until 1809, when a committee 
consisting of one from each denomination was chosen to divide the money 
raised for preaching, among the several denominations.! If any person 



o The earliest mention of a singing-school in the village, whicfi we have found, is an advertisement of 
Bamuel W. Ayer, in December, 1812, of his intention to commence a " Singing School, at the First Parish 
School House." 

t The cemetery opposite the brick mccting-house has been laid out but a few years, and is the third in 
the parish. 

t The only denominations represented by a "committee man," were the Congregationalists, (or 
" Standing Order " ) the Methodists, and the Universalists. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 571 

refused to say to wliicli one lie desired his money to be paid, it was to be 
divided equally among all of tbem. 

From 1809, to ISIS, the above plan continued in operation. Eacb de- 
nomination had preaching of their own, as many Sabbaths in the year as 
the money thus divided would furnish. 

In 1818, ten members of the parish petitioned for a parish meeting " To 
instruct the Committee of the Congregational order how much preaching to 
engage ; " and also " To see if Preachers of the Universal order shall be 
admitted to preach in said Meeting House in the West Parish the present 
year." At the same time, fourteen others petitioned for a meeting, to see 
if the parish would vote that the money paid into the treasury for the sup- 
port of preaching, might not be drawn out " to hire the Congregational, 
Methodist, and Universal Preachers, as usual." 

This was an attempt, on the part of the Congregationalists, to regain 
entire control of the parish, but it was unsuccessful. The parish .refused 
to act upon the propositions in the first petition, and agreed to those of the 
other. 

In May, 1821, the parish voted to extend a call to Eev. Mr. Pomeroy, 
but no action appears to have been taken by the church, and he was not 
invited. One year later, a proposition was made to invite Rev. Mr. Lam- 
bard but it was not agreed to. Two years still later, an attempt was 
made to unite on Eev. Stephen Morse, but this also proved unsuccessfuL 

Finally, in September, 1826, the church unanimously invited Eev. 
Moses G. Grosvenor to become their pastor. In this call, the parish joined, 
and Mr. Grosvenor accepted the invitation. He was ordained December 
27, 1826. 

Soon after the settlement of Mr. Grosvenor, David ^\^ebster, by his last 
will and testament, bequeathed to the parish two pieces of land, contain- 
ing about twenty acres ; two thousand dollars in money ; and all the resi- 
due of his personal estate, after paying his debts, &c. The conditions of 
the bequest were, in substance, as follows : — The income and interest 
of the property bequeathed was to be " applied exclusively for the support 
and maintainance of an ordained Gospel minister of the congregational or 
presbytcrian denomination, who is orthodox or Calvinistic in his senti- 
ments, in the west or second parish in said Haverhill." Whenever any 
minister of that description should be "regularly ordained and settled " in 
the parish, "according to the custom of congregational or presbytcrian 
churches," the trustees-' were to pay over to the proper parish officers the 

o John Marsh, Esq., and Mr. Brickett Bradley, of Haverhill ; and Eev. Gardner B. Perry, Rev. Ii-a 
Ingraham, and Mr. David C. Kimball, of Bradford, "their successors," ifec, were designated as trustees 
of the property bequeathed. 



572 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

income of the bequest. If there should not be any euch minister so set- 
tied, the bequest was to be an accumulating fund in the hands of the 
trustees for the term of ten years, (unless such a minister should be set- 
tled before that period) when the income was to be paid over " to the 
domestic missionary society ^■•' * " to be applied specially for the 
support of preachers of the Gospel, of the denomination aforesaid, in such 
vacant and destitute parishes as are unable to supply themselves." The 
income was to revert to the parish whenever they settled a minister as 
specified ; and at the expiration of ten years after such a minister had 
been settled by the parish, and had "remained as such during that 
period," the trustees might, by consent of the judge of probate, transfer 
the capital sum of the bequest to such trustees of the funds of the parish 
as should be duly authorized to receive the same. The will is dated July 
12th, 1827. Mr. Webster died October 18th, 1828, aged 79 years. 

Mr. Grosvenor was a Congregationalist, and was settled as such. By 
the terms of his settlement, the connection between the pastor and the 
parish could at any time be dissolved by a three months' notice from either 
party. 

It could hardly be expected that such a settlement would be satisfactory 
to the other denominations in the parish, and we accordingly find, under 
date of January 10, 1828, a petition from thirty -nine members of the 
parish, requesting a parish meeting, " To see if the Parish will vote to 
appropriate any naoney, and if any, how much, to hire ministers to preach 
in said Parish, in addition to the Eevd Mr. Grosvenor." The meeting 
was held, and it was voted (yeas fifty, nays fifty-three) not to hire any 
other minister, as petitioned for. 

A few weeks later, (March 13, 1828) a meeting was called to see if the 
parish would give Mr. Grosvenor a *' three months' notice to withdraw his 
pastoral connection " with the parish. The proposition was carried, and 
Mr. Grosvenor was accordingly dismissed." 

" During Mr. Qrosvenor's ministry, lliirty-one ■were admitted to the chnrch ; twenty-three were baptized ; 
and ten renewed their baptismal covenant. From the death of Eev. Mr. Adams, in 1801, to May, 
1821, there were thirty admissions to the church. From the same date, to August, 1S24, thirty-three 
persons were baptized. In August, 1820, Deacon Aaron Clarke, (who removed to tliis town from Wells, 
Me., in 1807,) was chosen deacon (associate) with Deacon Moses Webster. Deacon Clarice died March 
S, 1828, aged 90 ; and Deacon Webster died January 27, 1827, aged 90. The hitter was a member of the 
church fifty-one years, and for forty-four years one of its deacons. In May, 182i, the church adopted a 
new form of "Articles of Faith and Covenant." September 6th, of the same year, nineteen persons were 
admitted to the church. In the records of 1821, and subsequently, we notice that persons admitted to 
the church were frequently "baptized the same day." Several are recorded as having been "rcbaptizcd" 
on theii' admission. In February, 1827, Joseph and Moses Webster were chosen deacons. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 573 

The Congregationalists, finding themselves in the minority in the parish, 
soon after decided to withdraw, and organize a new society. They erected 
a neat and substantial brick meeting-house/-' one mile west of the old 
parish meetiug-house, and, August 3d, 1829, petitioned for a parish meet- 
ing to see if the parish would " vote to give the Eev. Abijah Cross a call 
to settle with them in the gospel ministry to preach in the brick meeting 
house," on condition that his salary should not commence until the next 
annual parish meeting, in March, 1830 ; that the parish treasurer should 
" pay over annually to that part of the parish that do not wish to pay Mr. 
Cross, all their taxes, and so much of the annual income of the parsonage 
property as shall bear an equal proportion to their parish taxes or rateable 
estates; " that the latter should have " a right to spend the money thus 
paid over, in the old meeting house, for such preaching as they shall 
choose ; " and that a three months' notice shall be sufficient to dissolve 
the connection between Mr. Cross and the parish. 

The next day, (August 4, 1829) the Universalists petitioned for a parish 
meeting, "to see if the parish will vote to give a call to Eev. Daniel D. 
Smith to settle with us as our minister," &c. A parish meeting was there- 
upon warned for the 26th of the same month, to act upon the several 
propositions of the two petitions. In the meantime, (August 20) the 
church extended a unanimous call to Mr. Cross, to settle with them, as 
their minister, f 

On the 26th, the parish met, and voted to give Eev. Mr. Smith a call to 
settle with them for two years ; and not to give a <iall to Eev. Mr, Cross. 
Mr. Smith accepted the same day. 

October 20th, a meeting of the church was held at Dea. Moses Web- 
ster's, and a committee was chosen to remonstrate against the settlement of 
Mr. Smith. But the remonstrance did not prevent the settlement of Mr. 
Smith over the parish society. 

At the next annual parish meeting an effort was made to revive the old 
plan of dividing the receipts from parish taxes " among the different 
denominations," but was unsuccessful, — as was also one to sell wood from 
the parsonage land for the same purpose. 

o It was dedicated May 7, 1829. The first meeting was held in it in the February preceding. 

t The church had from the first been a Congregational Church, and when the Congregationalists sece- 
ded from the^jartVi, the church went with them, as a body. The Universalists had no church organiza- 
tion in the parish, until after the final separation, in 1829, They were among the members of the old 
parish, but noto'f the oli. parish church. 

The Methodists never had a regular church organization in the parish. In 1818, they held one commu- 
nion, for which time they requested the use of the communion vessels belonging to the parish church, but 
were refused. In lieu of them, they used decanters and common tumblers. Even their use bi the " Sac- 
rament Table," was thought to have been " an unchristian encroachment on the ecclesiastical rights of 
the church " in the parish, " & highly reprehensible." 



574 HISTOKY OF HAVERHILL. 

May 4tL, 1831, tlie church renewed tlicir call to tlie Eev. Mr. Cross, 
which was accepted ; and he was installed on the 1 8tli of the same month. 
He continued a faithful pastor of the church and society until January 
26th, 1853, when he was dismissed by a mutual council, at his own 
request.^'"' 

Eev. Ahijah Cross was born in Methuen, Mass., October 25, 1793, 
graduated at Dartmouth College in 1821, and entered the Andover Theo- 
logical Seminary the year following. Shortly after this, he left the Semi- 
nary, and pursued his theological studies chiefly with Eev. Dr. Dana, of 
Newburypoi't. He was licensed to preach in 1823 ; and in March, 1824, 
was ordained at Salisbury, N. H. He was dismissed from that church in 
April 1829, and immediately after, commenced preaching in the West 
Parish. After his dismissal, in 1853, he continued to reside in the town, 
most of the time in the village, until his death, April 14, 1856. 

Eev. Mr. Smith continued with the parish (Universalist) society, until 
1831, from which time, until 1834, that society was without a regular 
minister. In March, of the last named year, a call was extended to Eev. 
Thomas G. Farnsworth, previously pastor of the First Universalist society 
in this town, to settle with them for ten years, at a salary of $400 per 
annum, with the use of the parsonage. The invitation was accepted. 
Mr. Farnsworth remained with the society until April 1837, when he was 
dismissed, at his request. 

In 1832, a proposition was made to remove the old meeting-house, to 
some point nearer the centre of the parish. A committee was chosen 
to estimate the cost, &c.; and in 1834, the house was taken down, moved 
one mile and a quarter west, re-framed, and re-erected. 

After the dismissal of Eev. Mr. Farnsworth, in 1837, the parish society 
were destitute of a regular minister, until June, 1840, at which time Eev. 
Henry M. Nichols was ordained and settled, at a salary of $500 a year. 
Mr. Kichols continued with the society until his death, in 1 842. 

About this time, the bequest of Mr. "Webster began to attract special 
attention by tlie two societies in the parish. The income of the fund had 
accumulated until it alone amounted to several thousand dollars, but not a 
dollar of it had as yet been applied to its intended purpose, and, as then 
organized, neither of the two societies could lay claim to it. The parish 
(Universalist) society were without the specified kind of a minister to 
entitle them to the bequest ; and the church (Orthodox) society no longer 

o During the whole ministry of Mr. Cross in the west parish, (nearly twenty-four years) one hundred 
fliid forty-one were admitted to the cliurch, and one hundred and one haptized. 



aiSTORT OP HAVERHILL. 575 

had a minister who was settled by the jjarish. Neither society could claim 
the henefit of the fund, hut each could prevent the other from enjoying it. 

From March, 1844, — when a committee was first chosen by the parish 
society, " to act in reference to the Fund of the late David Webster," — 
down to 1852, — when the matter was finally adjusted, — the disposition 
of this fund was a prolific theme for society discussions and negotiations. 
Various ofi"ers were made by each society, from time to time, until March 
29, 1851, when the Congregational society offered the parish (or Univer- 
salist) society $2,400, for the privilege of becoming themselves the Parish, 
— which was accepted. The Universalists, or parish society, were to 
retain possession of all the parish property they were then in possession 
of, and were to relinquish to the Congregationalists, or church society, all 
fight and claim to the Parish, and the latter were to have the Webster 
fund. 

April 27, 1852, an act was obtained granting leave to the parish society 
to make the transfer, which was accepted June 17th, and in the October 
following, (October 6, 1852) forty-five members of the Congregational 
society were admitted members of the parish. On the IGth of the same 
month, thirty members of the parish withdrew from it, and it was thus 
left in the hands of the Congregationalists, where it yet remains. 

Soon after the transfer of the parish was jierfected, in 1852, the then . 
parish (now Congregationalists) took measures to settle a minister agree- 
ably to the conditions of the will of Mr. Webster, and, December 14th, 
extended a call to Ecv. S. E. Kendall, — which was declined." January 
26th, 1853, Eev. Mr. Cross was dismissed from the Congregational church 
and society, at his own request, and, in March, Eev. Asa Farwcll was 
invited to settle as their pastor. Mr. Farwell accepted, and was ordained 
April 21st, of the same year. 

Eev. Asa Farwell was born in Dorset, Vt., March 8th, 1812; fitted for 
college afthe Burr Seminary, Manchester, Vt. ; graduated at Middlebury 
College, in 1838, and at Andovcr Theological Seminary, in 1842. From 
1842 to 1852, he was principal of the Abbott Female Academy, at Ando- 
ver. He commenced preaching in the AVest Parish, in February, 1853, 
where he yet remains. 

From the settlement of Eev. Mr. Farwcll, in 1853, to the present time, 
(December, 1860) there have been fifty-five admissions to the church, and 
thirty baptisms. 

In December, 1844, Ezra B. Welch and John Mitchell were chosen 
deacons ; in December, 1856, Daniel Webster was chosen in place of the 

° Mr. Kendall was invited to settle as a colleague of Mr. Cross. • 



676 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

latter, who had removed from the parish ; in December, 1860, Isaac Pct« 
tingill was chosen in place of Deacon Welch, removed from town. It ifli 
an interesting fact that of the fifteen deacons of the church, from 1735 to 
1860, seven were of the name of Webster, viz. : Nathan, Stephen, 
Thomas, Moses, Joseph, Moses, and Daniel Webster. 

The Universalist Society. As this society was the Parish, from 1828 
to 1852, we have already given the most prominent points of its history 
down to the latter date, and find but little to add in this place. 

Since the death of Eev. Mr. Nichols, in 1842, the society have had no 
settled minister, though they have had preaching the most of the time. 
The following named, in their regular order, have supplied the desk for 
one year or more, each, since the period referred to: — Eev.'s Josiah 
Gilman, Cyrus Bradley, W. W. Wilson, Willard Spaulding, James E. 
Pomfrct, Lemuel Willis, Martin J. Stcere. Thd Eev. Mr. Wilson con- 
tinued with the society about four years. Mr. Spaulding was their 
minister at the time the parish transfer was effected. Mr. Stecre is their 
minister at the present time. 

August 30, 1852, the society was re-organized, under the name of The 
First UmDersalist Society in the West Parish of Haverhill. This was 
rendered necessary by the transfer of the parish organization to the Con- 
gregational society, as already mentioned. 

In 1857, a proposition was made to the society, by that portion of its 
members residing in " Ayer's Tillage," so called, to remove the meeting- 
house to that viHage, or to build a new one at that place. The pro- 
position was indefinitely postponed. Two years later, the proposition 
was again made, but, by the vigorous exertions of those opposed to the 
change, it was negatived by one majority. This was in April, 1859. 

June 12th, of the same year, a meeting of the residents of the above 
named village was called, when it was unanimously voted to build a meet* 
ing-house^t that place, and a committee was chosen to purchase a site for 
the proposed edifice. 

July 4th, those interested in the movement organized themselves, under 
the general statute, into a corporate body, by the name of Ayers Village 
Associates, for the purpose of holding and transferring property, and 
managing their affairs, in a legal manner. An eligible lot of land was 
purchased, situated a few rods east of the four corners in the village, on 
the north side of the street, and a neat and convenient church was 
promptly, erected, at an expense of about $5,000. It was dedicated April 
25, 1860. As the members still hold their individual membership in the 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 577 

old society, they have not, as yet, perfected their organization as a reli- 
gious society. Since the church was dedicated, the desk has been regularly 
supplied. Kev. Mr. Damon, formerly of the Summer Street society, now 
preaches one-half of the time, and the remainder is filled by short engage- 
ments, as opportunity offers. 

East Parish. 

We have already given--' an account of the erection of the easterly part 
of the town into a separate Precinct, or Parish, in 17-1:3, and need not 
repeat it in this place. In November, of the same year, the first parish 
meeting was held " at the house of Nathl Whittier, deceased."! Eobert 
Hastings was chosen clerk, and a committee was chosen to select a location 
for a meeting-house, who reported, at an adjourned meeting, a recom- 
mendation that it be erected " at the south side of Turkey Hill, near the 
south-east end of the Hill." The report was accepted, and measures were 
at once taken to have the meeting-house so far finished as to allow it to be 
used for meetings by the following September, — which was done. The 
house was not actually finished, until a few years before it was torn down, 
in 1838, — nearly a century after. The gallery floors vrere laid about 

1752, " the windows on the back side of the pulpit" were cut out in 

1753, at the r^uest of the minister, Kev. Mr. Parker, " for his conveine- 
ancy of aier inthe summer season ; " the house was plastered in 1768; 
the pews were built at various times from 1744 to some time subsequent 
to 181 6 J ; the east end was clapboarded, and " the fore doors & window 
frames " painted in 1793. Until about 1816, the two sexes sat apart 
during service, (except those families who were so fortunate as to own 
pews) and the " women's seats " are mentioned even later than that date. 
The house was first artificially heated in 1829, when two "box" 
stoves were introduced. The writer well remembers their gigantic pro- 
portions, and long funnels. The latter, in the absence of a chimney, were 
thrust through the windows on the north and south sides of the house. 

As soon as the house was ready for occupancy, the inhabitants of the 
parish invited the neighboring ministers to fast and pray with them, "for 
ye divine direction, in order to give a Person a call to settle among them 
in the work of the ministry." For that purpose, September 6th, 1744, 
was set apart. After the meeting was concluded in the afternoon, the 

o See page 320. 

t Where John B. Nichols, Esq., now lives. 

X After the house was erected, sixteen privileges for building pews in it were sold at auction. 

73 



578 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

ministers recommended Mr. Benjamin Parker as a person well qualified 
for tlie place. Accordingly, October 4tb, a call was extended to Mr. I'ar- 
ker to become tbeir minister. Tbe parish voted to give him the use of all 
the parsonage land ; build him a parsonage house and barn ; and pay him 
£100 Old Tenor, and £70 " provision pay," annually, for the first three 
jears, and after that, the provision pay was to be increased to £100 per 
annum. The call was accepted, and Mr. Parker was ordained November 
28, 1744, at which time the church was "gathered." The latter consisted 
of sixteen male members. At the first church meeting, January 31, 
^^,^1745, Eobert Hunkins and Peter Green were choseiideacotisS' -m^ 

Although the church was not gathered, and a pastor ordained, until 
this time, "the inhabitants of the precinct had constant preaching for 
some time previously."! 

It was a part of the agreement with Mr. Parker, that a parsonage house 
and barn should be built for his accommodation, but for some reason, 
(probably on account of the large expense already incurred for the new 
meeting-house) the parish in the following JMarch (1745) chose a commit- 
tee to request him to wait a time before obliging them to build the house. 
His answer was, "no, he would not," — and the house was built and 
finished before the next October. The house is still standing, nearly 
opposite the meeting-house, and is occupied for the origin||^ purpose. 

In 1748, the parish built a school -house, about six rods northerly of the 
meeting-house, and laid out two burying-grounds, the first " between Jon- 
athan Marsh's barn and Gravel shoot," the other " in the corner of Kichard 
Colby's land nearest country bx'idge," Both of these places are still used 
for the purpose, and are the only ones ever laid out in the parish. A few 
years subsequently, the school money was divided into two parts, and one 
school was kept at Gideon George's, and another at Joseph Greele's. This 
plan continued in operation until the division of the town into smaller 
school districts finally took the matter entirely out of the hands of the 
parish. 

In 1767, several persons " brought in their papers as Baptists," and re- 
quested to be exempted from parisTi rates, but were refused. In return, 
they refused to pay the rates, and after several efi^orts to collect them, the 
parish finally, in 1768, voted to free all " who were baptized before they were 
rated in 1766." The next year the privilege was modified so as to exempt 
only those who had been baptized " by Dipiug or plunging in the water." 

" In 1757, Joseph Kelley was joined with them, 
t Rev. Mr. Parker's Church Records, 1744. 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 579 

The number of Baptists seems gradually to have increased, until a Bap- 
tist church was finally formed in the parish. Their influence may be 
judged by the fact that as early as 1780, Rev. Hezekiah Smith. was, by a 
vote of the parish, invited to "preach or Lecture one Sabbath in the 
meeting house." 

We have already mentioned one of the "peculiarities" of Eev. Mr. 
Parker, in his reply to the committee requesting further time to build 
his parsonage house. His determination, manifested thus early, to have 
the articles of agreement carried out to the letter, was subsequently, in 
part, at least, a cause of much trouble. It was a part of that agreement 
that he should be paid £100 annually. Old Tenor ; and when that cur- 
rency afterward depreciated largely in value, the parish were, perhaps, 
less inclined to make up the deficiency, than they would have been under 
other circumstances. The unpleasant state of feeling thus engendered, 
was afterward greatly increased by the course of Mr. Parker in withhold- 
ing his encouragment and sympathy from the patriots of the Eevolution. 
He was believed to be a loyalist, or " tory," and when his parish, in 1775, 
requested him to abate somewhat of his salary, his answer was that he 
would not, but " would stand for the whole of it" Twice a committee was 
then chosen, and sent to "treat with him," in regard to annulling the con- 
tract. Then a committee was sent to gain his consent to a reference of 
the matter to " the neighboring ministers, or any other persons," but he 
not only refused, but desired " the parish would not trouble him with any 
committees hereafter, for he would not hear them." Upon this 

" It was put to vote by the moderator to see if the Parish will have the 
Eeverend Mr Parker to Preach to them any more for the futur or not, it 
passed in the afirmative — they would not have him."- 

" It was put to vote by the moderator to see if the Parish will Shut up 
the meeting house Dors and fasten them up for the time to come — it 
passed in the afirmative." 

Captain Daniel Johnson, Anthony Chase, and Samuel Ayei", Jr., were 
then chosen " a committee to fasten up the meting house dors on Monday 
the 8th of January inst," — (1776). 

Matters remained thus for twelve months, when the parish joined with 
Mr. Parker in calling the help of an ecclesiastical council to settle the 
difficulties. The council met at the house of Elias Johnson, and after 
two days' negotiation, the connection between Mr. Parker and his parish 
was dissolved. 



580 HISTORY OF nAVERHllIi. 

He soon after removed to Lis ovin farm, about a mile south of the meet-- 
ing-housc,'-' where he continued to reside until his death, in 1789. He 
was interred in the burial-ground near the meeting-house. 

Eev. Benjamin Parker was a son of Daniel, of Bradford, and a graduate 
of Harvard College in 1737. His first wife was Elizabeth Fletcher, of 
Dunstable ; his second wife was Lucy Paiggles, of Billcrica. By the first, 
he had six children ; and by the second, one. 

During the ministry of Mr. Parker, seventy-seven persons owned the 
covenant, and three hundred and thirty-four (mostly children) were bap- 
tized. He married one hundred and thirty couples. 

No services were held in the meeting-house from January, 1776, until 
the spring or summer of 1778, when the pulpit was again occupied, though 
irregularly. From November, 1777, to April, 1780, and from December, 
1780, to December, 17.91, there arc no parish records, though it is certain 
that regular preaching was had at least a part of the time. Nehemiah 
Ordway (of Amesbury) supplied the pulpit regularly from 1788 to Nov- 
ember, 1793,f when Mr. Tappan, of Newbury, was engaged for a time. 
Mr. Tappan also kept the parish Grammar School. In the winter of 
179-4-5, there were no services in the meeting-house. The church finally 
became nearly extinct. Only one male member resided in the place ; no 
church meeting was held for many years, and the church records could not 
be found. 

These records were supposed to have been concealed or destroyed by Mr. 
Parker, previous to his death ; but a few years since, the original book of 
church records was conditionally returned to one of the deacons of the 
church by a daughter of Mr. Parker, and is now virtually in possession of 
the rightful owners. 

In October, 1796, the parish invited Eev. Isaac Tompkins to settle 
among them, in which call the members of the church desired to join, but 
■ it was questioned whether there was then a regular church in the parish. 

Under these circumstances, it was considered advisable to begin anew, 
and a council was called, January 11, 1797, for the purpose of forming a 



" That now occupied by Henry Davis and next.north of Joshua Lake. Mr. Parker purchased it of the 
heirs of Timothy Eaton. 

t Rev. Nehtminh Ordway graduated at Harvard College in 1764, antl was ordained in Middleton, 
Mass., in 1788. He afterward requested and obtained a dismissal, and came to Haverhill and preached 
in the East Parish seven years. He went frcjni Haverhill to Raymond, N. H., and afterward rcHioved t» 
Pembroke, N. H., where he died in 1836, aged 9S years. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 581 

new diurch. Twenty years had made great changes in the parish, as may 
be seen from the following extract from the minutes of the council. =••■= 

" They esteem it a departure from chh order to constitute those mem- 
bers of a new chh, who continue members of other chhs ; because it will 
involve them in inconsistent obligations ; and therefore cannot embrace, 
in the number of candidates, those who are of that descrijition. At 
the same time . they esteem the number of four, the' extremely small to 
form a chh, not contrary to gospel rule ; because ivhere two or three are 
met tegether in X 's name, the Head of the chh has promised to be with 
them. The council also have in view the almost certain prospect of imme- 
diate additions by regular dismission & recommendation from other chhs 
& from this christian society. Therefore impressed with the solemnity of 
the transaction, and concieving ourselves duly authorized, we do constitute 
and declare Elias Johnson, Ephraim Elliot, Joseph Greely, & Samuel 
Woodbury a regular church of our Lord Jesus Christ," 

The council do not mention the names of the women whom they admit- 
ted,! f^J" ^^^ reason (as given by Eev, Mr. Abbot, scribe, in a note to the 
minutes) " that they tho't it sufficient to mention the names of the men, 
as the male members are considered as constituting the body qualified to 
transact business as a regular chh." 

Immediately after their organization, the church extended a unanimous 
call to Mr. Tompkins to become their pastor, which was accepted, and he 
was ordained March 1st, 1797. His salary was $250 the first year, with 
the use of the parsonage buildings and lands, and wood for his fires. 
After that, he was to have such a salary as should be agreed upon. It is 
with pleasure we record the fact, that, from his settlement to his death, 
(in 1826) the connection of Mr. Tompkins with his church and parish 
was uniformly pleasant and satisfactory to all parties. After his death, 
the parish voted his widow the free use of the parsonage house and adjoin- 
ing land for one year. 

Eev. Isaac Tompkins was a son of Christopher, of New Bedford, where 
he was born, April 16, 1761. He received his theological education under 
the direction, principally, of Eev. Samuel West, D.D., of the same place. 
He was a man of strong mental powers, well indoctrinated in theology, a 
decided Calvinist, an argumentative and faithful preacher, unexceptionable 
in moral and ministerial character, and highly esteemed by all who knew 
him, Erom respect to his talents and acquirements, Brown University 

<* The council met at the house of Elias Johnson, 
t Nine in number- 



{582 HISTORY OP HAVERniLL. 

conferred on him the honorary degree of Master of Arts, as early as 1795. 
Mr. Tompkins died November 21, 1826, aged G5 years." 

During Mr. Tompkins' ministry, thirty-one adults, and forty-nine chil- 
dren were baptized, and sixty-one persons were admitted into the church. 
Twenty-five of the latter were admitted at one time, — April 11, 1813, 
— and eight more May 23, of the same year. 

Elias Johnson and Francis Swan were chosen deacons, on the day of the 
ordination of Mr. Tompkins. Thomas Johnson was chosen to the same 
office April 12, 1812. 

After Mr. Tompkins decease, the society had no regular supply until 
1828, when Eev. John H. Stevens, who had been the minister at Stoneham, 
Mass., received an invitation to settle, which was accepted, and he was 
installed in April of the same yeaT. Mr. Stevens remained with the 
society until the spring of 1833, when his health declined, and he was 
dismissed at his own requcst.f During his ministry in the parish, he 
baptized nineteen persons, (nine of them adults) and nineteen were admit- 
ted into the church. 

From the dismission of Mr. Stevens, until the early part of 1835, the 
society was again without a settled minister. In May, of the latter year, 
Eev. James Eoyal Gushing, (who had then supplied the pulpit for some 
time) was invited to become their pastoi', and accepted. He was installed 
June 10, 1835. 

The early labors of Mr. Gushing in the parish, were particularly suc- 
cessful. In November, 1835, twenty-two persons were admitted to the 
church by profession — twelve of whom were baptized. 

In March, 1837, Tappan Ghase and Nathan Johnson were chosen dea- 
cons, in place of deacons Foot and Johnson, resigned, " on account of age 
and infirmity." In 1839, Gharles Coffin was chosen to the same office, in 
place of Tappan Ghase, removed from the parish. 

In 1838, the old meeting-house, that had withstood the elements for 
nearly a century, was taken down, and the present house erected, nearly 
on the same site. Many can remember the venerable, weather-beaten old 

• Mr. Tompkins married, January 25), 1797, Mary Alden, daughter of Captain John Alden, of Fair- 
haven, Mass., who was a lineal descendant of John Alden, the Pilgrim. They had seven children, Lois 
Alden, Sarah, Isaac, Christopher, Mary, Samuch Sprage, and Abigail Weld. Lois A. married Judge 
Spooner, of Kairhaven ; Isaac is a merchant of Chester, N. H. ; Christopher married a daughter of Enoch 
Foot, Esq., of East llaverhill, and now resides in this town; Mary married Charles Chase, and Sarah 
married Anthony Chase, (brothers) of East Haverhill. Jlrs. Tompkins was born February 10, 1767, and 
died August 30, 184C, aged 79 years. 

t Mr. Stevens returned to Stoneham, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred a 
few years since. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 583 

cliurcli, with its large square pews, its capacious galleries, its lofty pulpit, 
and still loftier " sounding-board." We shall never forget our childish 
speculation as to the support of the latter, nor our great relief when, stand- 
ing on the back seat in the ancient gallery, we actually saw with our own 
eyes the heavy braces that kept it in place ; and we are therefore prepared 
to sympathize with the worthy minister'^ whose first sermon under it was 
delivered in the constant fear of being crushed by its fall ! 

In April, 1844, the connection between Mr. Gushing and his charge was 
dissolved, the parish having voted " not to raise any money for the support 
of preaching the ensuing year." 

Mr. Gushing is a native of Salisbury, N. H., where he was born No- 
vember 23, 1800. He is a great-grandson of Eev. James Gushing, the 
minister of the North Parish from 1730 to 1764. He received his theo- 
logical education at the Seminary in Bangor, Me., and was first settled in 
the ministry at Boxborough, Mass. Afterward, he was for a short time a 
city missionary, at Boston. From Haverhill, he went to Wells, Me., 
where he remained, settled in the ministry, for some ten years, when he 
removed to Taunton, Mass., where he is now pastor of a society. 

During the ministry of Mr. Gushing in this parish, he baptized fifteen 
children, and twelve adults ; and twenty-eight persons were admitted to 
the church. 

In November, 1848, the society extended a call to Eev. Wm. Gogswell, 
D.D., to become their pastor, but he declined. At the same time, Stephen 
S. Grosby was chosen deacon, in place of Nathan Johnson, removed from 
the parish. 

In June, of the following year, Eev. Wales Lewis, of Kingston, Mass., 
received and accepted a call to settle in the parish. Mr. Lewis continued 
with his charge until the spring of 1857, when he was dismissed at his 
own request.f During his ministry, eight persons were admitted to the 
church by profession, — all of whom were baptized, — and two children 
were baptized. 

In August, 1857, Eev. Abraham Burnham accepted an invitation to 
settle in the parish, and was ordained the following October. Mr. Burnham 
is still the pastor. Since his settlement over the society, there have been 
six admissions to the church by profession, and two by letter. 

Mr. Burnham was born in Dunbarton, N. H., April 9, 1829 ; graduated 
at Dartmouth in 1852, and at Andover in 1857. He commenced his 

" Eev. Mr. Tompkins. 

t Mr. Lewis is at present settled in Lyman, Maine. 



584 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

labors in the parish immediately after the dismission of Mr. Lewis, and 
received an invitation to settle as soon as he had completed his studies. 

First Baptist Cuurch. 

The First Baptist Church and Society in this town, had its origin in a 
casual visit of the Eev. Hezekiah Smith to the town in the autumn of 
the year 17G4. He was a young man, who had recently graduated from 
the college in Princton, N. J., and been ordained to the christian ministry, 
and his preaching was attended with remarkable success. At first, he 
ministered in the pulpits of the " Standing Order," but when converts 
were multiplied, and there were indications that a church of " Separatists" 
under this " New Light " leader, would be organized, those pulpits were 
closed against him. There being at that time no recognized Baptist 
Church in the immediate vicinity, the brethren in Haverhill were obliged 
to proceed to their organization without council from abroad ; and, accord- 
ingly, on the 9th of May, 1765, seven brethren and sixteen sisters, in all 
twenty-three persons, "after solemn fasting and prayer, mutually agreed 
to walk in gospel order together, having been first baptized by immersion, 
but not joined to any church." With one exception, these persons had 
all been baptized by Mr. Smith. 

On the 2Sth of June, 1765, the church gave Mr. Smith a call to become 
their pastor. This call does not appear to have been either accepted or 
declined until August 22d, 1766, when Mr. Smith was received to mem- 
bership, by letter from the Baptist Church in Charleston, S. C. The call 
was then renewed, and on the 12th of November, 1766, Mr. Smith became 
the pastor of the church, and continued in that office until his decease. 
Though Mr. Smith did not formally become the pastor of the church until 
the latter part of 1766, he " advised and directed" in the formation of 
the church, and " constantly preached" from that time forward. 

Immediately after the organization of the church, a large and commo- 
dious meeting-house was erected, and finished the same year. It stood 
near the present church, and was at first built without a steeple. The 
latter was added in 1799. 

Previous to July 1, 1767, those admitted members of the church were 
all residents of this town. In February of that year, the church voted 
"that one or two members with the Pastor, be authorized to receive any 
person or persons into this church whom they shall esteem to be meet sub- 
jects, provided the person or persons live at such a distance that they 
cannot attend to be received into the church according to usual order." 
In pursuance of this vote, persons were baptized and received to member- 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 585 

ship in the churcli, whose residences were scattered over a wide extent of 
territory to the north and east of this town. The pastor, with one or two 
of the brethren, made missionary tours from time to time. Falmouth, 
(Portland) Gorham, Sanford, Narraganset, (Damariscotta) Berwick, Saco 
Eiver, and other places in the State of Maine ; Brentwood, Stratham, Exe- 
ter, Deerfield, Hoj)kintoii, Duubarton, Nottingham, and other settlements 
in New Hampshire ; and Methuen, Dracut, Chelmsford, Kowley, and other 
towns in Massachusetts, experienced the effects of these itinerating ser- 
vices. The records mention frequent calls from these, and other places, 
for the church to permit their pastor to come and baptize them and assist 
them in forming a church, &c. As early as July, 1768, it is recorded that 
the church " approve the doings of the Pastor and brethren in dismissing 
from Haverhill church the members residing at the eastward, and in con- 
stituting them into two Baptist churches, one in Gorham and the other in 
Berwick, Me." May 4, 1781, several persons in Eowley, who had been 
baptized, but had not joined any church, were organized as a branch of 
the Baptist Church in Haverhill. They chose Samuel Harriman elder, 
and continued as a branch of the Haverhill church, until 1785, when they 
were set off as a separate church, and ei^ht more were dismissed from the 
mother church to join thenu In the same year, eleven brethren in New- 
buryport requested the same privilege, which was granted. These scattered 
churches and members shared largely in the perplexities suffered by the 
" Separatists" of the times, and frequent appeals were made to the parent 
church in this town, for sympathy, counsel, and assistance, in behalf of 
those distant members. 

Nor did the parent church herself escape those perplexities, — not to 
call them by a harsher name. Its members were taxed to support the 
churches of the " standing order ; " their goods were not unfrequently 
distrained for the payment of these taxes; their religious services Were 
disturbed or interrupted ; the *' standing clergy " forbade the pastor from 
preaching within parish bounds ; and in one instance, as he was delivering 
a lecture upon a week-day evening, in a private house, a stone was hurled 
at him through a window. Fortunately the missile failed to accomplish 
the intended purpose. 

About 1744r, the law of the province was so modified, that Baptists arid 
others were exempted from paying taxes to the " standing order," provided 
they filed certificates to the effect that they attended worship and paid 
taxes in their own denomination. The Baptists made frequent efforts 
toward securing a more perfect religious freedom, and were finally suc- 
cessful. 

74 



585 niSTORT OF nAVERHILL. 

On the Slst of July, 1767, the church voted unanimously to join witB 
others in the formation of the Warren Association. In their letter upon 
that occasion, they state that their original number was twenty-three j 
that thirty-four were added to that number by baptism, in the year 1765 ; 
twenty-nine in 1766 ; and twenty-one in 1767; thus giving them, at the 
date of the letter, one hundred and seven members. The Warren Associa- 
tion was organized September 9, 1767, by the churches in Warren E. I., 
Bellingham, Middleboro, and Haverhill, Mass. ; the first organization of 
that character ever established in New England. 

At the organization of the Massachusetts forces, in 1775, Eev. Mr, 
Smith was appointed chaplain to the regiment of Colonel Nixon, in whi'ch 
were many Haverhill men. Frofii the records of his church, under date 
of July 12, of that year, we find that they " voted that our Pastor shall 
comply with the request of Col Nixon, and supply as chaplain the quarter 
part of the time for the future in his regiment." Mr. Smith accepted the 
appointment, and served in that capacity until 1780, when he was hon-. 
orably discharged, at his own request, and returned to the more grateful 
labors of his ministry at home. Though his pastoral labors had been in 
the meantime suspended, his pastoral connection remained unbroken.* 

In February, 1793, the society received an act of incorporation, under 
the name of The First Baptist Society in Haverhill. 

In 1796, the society made an effort to secure for themselves a share in 
the parsonage lands in the town, but without success. Similar cfi'orts 
were made, from time to time, as late as 1818, but were alike un- 
successful. 

In 1799, the meeting-house was thoroughly repaired and improved, and 
a steeple erected. Samuel White, Esq., presented the society with a fine 
bell for the latter, which was acknowledged by a handsome vote of thanks 
and a vote that the donor should be exempt from all taxes for the recent 
repairs. 

^ After a faithful and successful pastorship of a little more than forty 
years, Mr. Smith was called to a higher field of labor. He died January 
. 24, 1805, at the age of 68 years. 

Eev. Hezekiah Smith, D.D., was born on Long Island, New York, April 
21, 1737, of pious and reputable parents. He received his public educa- 
tion at Princeton College, where he graduated in 1762, and took his 
master's degree in 1765. After he left college, by advice of his physician 
he spent some time in travel, for the benefit of his health. On his arri- 

« Mr. Smith's salary Was £65 in 1794 ; £80 in 1798; £90 in 1803 ; and $300 in 1804. 



"HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 587 

^al at Charleston, S. C, he was ordained as an Evangelist; after which 
he visited various parts of the United States; — in one year travelling 
more than four thousand miles, and preaching about two hundred times, 
He came into New England in the spring of 1764: intending to return in 
the fall. He preached frequently while here, and came to Haverhill to 
supply the pulpit at the West Parish for a time. His preaching was re- 
markably successful. He was endowed with a commanding presence, rare 
social qualities and pulpit talent, and had enjoyed the best educational 
advantages of , his time. He preached without notes ; and his plain and 
practical sermons, able expositions of scripture, (in which he excelled) 
strong and commanding voice, and impressive manner, drew together large 
numbers from the neighboring parishes. When it became known that the 
popular preacher was a Baptist, (which fact was not at first even sus- 
pected) it added fresh fuel to the smouldering fires in the above parish, 
and the doors of the pulpit were speedily closed against him. 

Mr. Smith was among the first and firmest friends of Brown University, 
and travelled through various parts of the country to collect monies for 
its benefit. At an early period he was one of its Fellows, and continued 
so until his death. Sensible of his talents, his theological knowledge, the 
excellence of his character, and its indebtedness to him for his great exer- 
tions in its behalf, that University, in 1797, conferred upon him the 
honorable degree of Doctor of Divinity. 

On the day of Mr. Smith's death, his society met, and voted to pay all 
the expenses of the funeral, and also to provide the widow, her daughter, 
*' and the girl," with " a suit of mourning." 

During the ministry of Mr. Smith, three hundred and five persons were 
admitted to the church, including the original members. 

In the May following the death of their first pastor, the church secured 
the services of Kev. William Bachelder, whose labors with the church in 
Berwick, Me., for som§ nine years previous, had been attended with signal 
tokens of divine favor. In September, the church gave him a call to set- 
tle permanently with them, which was accepted, and Mr. Bachelder was 
installed on the 4:th of December in the same year. His salary was $G00. 
In this office he continued with great acceptance and success until his 
<ieath, which occurred April 8th, 1818, in the fifty -first year of his age, 
and the twenty-sixth of his ministry." 

During this time, two hundred and nine persons were admitted to the 
«hurch. But few men have passed from among us whose memories are 

^ Mr. Bachelder was Itorn in Boston, Maroli 25, 1768. 



588 HISTCXRY OT nAVERHILL. 

more ardently eterished lay the living, than is that of Mr. Bachelder, 
He adorned every relation in life, the civil, social and domestic. He "was 
unwearied in the discharge of his duties, both temporal and spiritual. 
The Maine Literary and Theological Institution will long cherish his 
memory, as one of its earliest patrons and warmest advocates. 

In the July following the decease of Mr. Bachelder, the Eev. George 
Keely came to Haverhill, and for the first time ministered to this people. 
He had recently arrived, with his family, from England, where, having 
pursued a course of theological study, under the tuition of the venerated 
John Kyland at the Seminary of the Baptists, in Bristol, he had been for 
several years successfully engaged in the ministry. On the 21st of 
August following, the church gave him a call to settle, which was accepted, 
and he was installed their pastor on tiie 7th of October, 1818. His salary 
was at first $800, and afterward $G00. 

In April, 1820, a plan for a permanent ministerial Fund was adopted 
by the society. The Fund was to be formed by quarterly contributions, 
donations, &c., and neither principal or interest were to be used until it 
amounted to $1,000, and none of the principal until it amounted to 
$10,000. In April, 1822, the amount of the Fund was $95,90. In Octo- 
ber of that year, Mrs. Sarah How made a donation to the Fund, of $1,000.- 
October, 1823, Mrs. Anna, widow of Dr. Nathaniel Saltonstall, donated 
$500. April, 1825, Mrs. Eebekah, widow of James Duncan, Esq., also 
donated $500. The trustees of' the Fund were incorporated in 1823. The 
quarterly collections were discontinued in 1828. In 1830, the Fund amount- 
ed to $3,013,33. In 1842, about ninety-three acres of land, which was 
given by Mrs, Sarah How, subject to the life estate of David How, Esq., 
came into the possession of the trustees. In April, 18G0, the Fund 
amounted to $3,094,76. 

In 1822, stoves were for the first time placed in the meeting-house. 
The same year, $25 was appropriated for the " support of the music," 
which appears to have been the first appropriation of the kind. In 1830, 
a bass-viol was purchased by the society; and in 1834, a double bass-viol 
was added, 

Eev. Mr. Keely continued pastor of the church until April 13, 1832, 
when he was dismissed, upon his resignation, after a settlement of nearly 
fourteen years. He still continues to reside in the town, and retains hia 
membership in the church, honored and revered. During his ministry, 
one hundred and twenty -five personsVere admitted to the church. 



HISTORY OF HAVEKHILL. 589 

May 26th, 1832, the church extended a call to Eev. Stephen P. Hill, in 
which the society joined on the 4th of June. Mr. Hill accepted in July, 
and was ordained on the first of the October following. 

In 1833, the old meeting-house was taken down, and a new one erected 
in its place. A neat and appropriate building was also erected a few rods 
east of the new meeting-house, for a vestry. When the present church 
was erected, the vestry was removed a short distance directly west, to How 
Street, and was occupied for a primary school, until the summer of 1860, 
when it was removed to the rear of Washington Street, and transformed 
into a carpenter's shop. The hill upon which the old meeting-house stood 
was cut down considerably previous to the erection of the second house, 
and still more when the present church was built. The new meeting- 
house was dedicated November 8, 1833. 

In the fall of 1833, Eev. Mr. Hill asked and obtained leave of absence 
for one year, from October 1st, on the score of impaired health. The next 
April, he resigned his pastorship entirely. He was subsequently, and for 
several years, settled in Baltimore, when he removed to Washington, D. C, 
where he now resides. 

February 2d, 1835, Eev. Edward N. Harris received and accepted a 
unanimous call to settle with the church and society. He was to be 
allowed a part of the time until the next November, to complete his stud- 
ies at Andovcr Theological Seminary. The church at this time was un- 
happily distracted by divisions, and Mr. Harris was never installed as 
pastor. He resigned April 1, 1836."' During the four years intervening 
between the resignation of Eev. Mr. Keely, and the settlement of a per- 
manent successor, sixty persons were admitted to the church by baptism. 

In July, 1836, Eev. Arthur S. Train entered upon his ministry with 
this society, and on the 5th of the September following, received a call to 
become their pastor. The invitation was accepted, and he was ordained 
October 20th of the same- year. His salary was at first $600, but was 
gi'adually increased, until, in 1856, it was $1,200. 

In July, 1848, it was voted to build a new meeting-house, and the pre- 
sent imposing struture was accordingly erected, at an expense of upward 
of $17,000. 

Mr. Train continued with the church until January 1, 1860. During 
his ministry, three hundred and ninety-one persons were admitted to the 
church — two hundred and twenty-five of them by baptism. The volun- 

<» Mr. Harris afterward became a Universalist, and April 19, 1838, was installed as pastor of the First 
TJniversalist Society in Methuen, Mass. 



590 DISTORT OP UAVERHILt. 

tary contributions of tlie church and congregation during the same period 
were $20,327,41. 

Eev. Arthur S. Train, D.D., is a native of Framingham, Mass., where 
he was born, November, 1812. He graduated at Brown University in 
1833, and was subsequently Tutor in that institution until September, 
1836. In June, 1859, he was unanimously elected Professor of Sacred 
Rhetoric and Pastoral Duties in the Newton Theological Institution. He 
entered upon the duties of that office in November, although his pastoral 
connection with the above church was not dissolved until January, 1860. 
During his ministry in Haverhill, Mr. Train married two hundred and 
seventy-seven couples. 

CUEISTIAN CutJRCH. 

The first meeting of those persons who afterward constituted the first 
Christian Church in this town, was held in Bradford, December, 1803, at 
the house of John Marble. Eev. Elias Smith, — who made his home in 
Portsmouth, where he had a church, — preached on the occasion. The 
following is a full copy of the records previous to April, 1805 : — 

" An account of the reformation in Bradford and Haverhill, and the 
gathering of the Christian Church, and its proceedings. — 

"December 22, 1803. A Door was opened in Bradford (by Bro. John 
Marble) where Elder Elias Smith Preached the Gospel the first time in 
Bradford. The word had some efi'ect. 

" Sept. 26, 1804. Elder Smith Preached again in Bradford. God 
blessed the word to the awakening of some Souls, who soon after found 
peace in believing. 

" Nov. 27, 1801. Elder Smith Preached at Mr. Silas Plummer's, in 
Haverhill. A Solemn time. The word had effect on some minds. 

" The AVinter following, Elder Smith, Elder Abner Jones," Elder Pot- 
tle, & Bro. John E. Palmer, often attended meetings in Bradford and 
Haverhill, under whose improvement the reformation was carried on." 

The following spring (April 18, 1805,) Elder Smith baptized four per- 
sons in Bradford, " who gave a reason of their hope to a number of Breth- 
ren that attended, and were considered members of the Christian Church 
in Portsmouth."! Between that date, and the 'organization of the church 
in 1806, fifty-four persons (seventeen males, and thirty-seven females) 
were baptized, by Elders Smith and Jones. Of these, thirty-nine Avero 

« Of Charlestown. 

t These four persons were Samuel Heath, Sally Johnson, Betsey Kimball, and Eliza Parker. 



HISTORY OF HAVERniLL. 591 

baptized in Bradford. The greater part of them were between the ages of 
twelve and twenty-five years. 

The record of the formation of the church is as follows: — 

"April 9th 1806. Thursday. The Church met at Mr Silas Plum- 
mer's in Haverhill.'"'- Elder Smith attended. Most of the Brethren 
present. This day the Brethren and Sisters in Bradford and Haverhill 
who had before been considered members of the Church of Christ in Ports- 
mouth, by the consent of the Brethren there, and their own agreement, 
consider themselves a Church of Christ to act in all things respecting 
themselves, and at the same time to be in connection with the churches in 
Portsmouth, Boston, Nantasket, Chebacco, and Woodstock Vermont, as all 
have agreed to take the New-Testament as their only rule, naming and 
owning the name of Christ (that is Christians) laying aside all human 
creeds, articles, platforms, covenants, associations, councils, and every 
human form of government, for the government of Christ and that only. 
Coppied from Bro Smith's hand." 

January 31, 1807. The church met at Thomas Plummer's, in Haver- 
hill, when they " received Bro Palmer as a preacher of the Gospel, and 
consented to give him a letter of recommendation as such." 

January 2B, 1808. " The Brethren appointed Bro John Marble, Bro 
John Plummer, and Bro Daniel Buzzel, to collect the Church Eecords and 
copy them into a Book." 

In the June following, a church meeting was held " to enquire into the 
minds of the brethren concerning Bro Frederick Plummer, whether they 
thought God had called him to preach the Gospel, and whether he 
ought to be Ordained as such." The brethren decided that it was his 
duty to work in the ministry, and on the 15th of the following September 
he was ordained. The place of ordination was the beautiful grove that 
stood on the east bank of Little Kiver, near the easterly end of Walnut 
Street.! 

For several years the meetings were held in private houses, after which 
a large room was obtained in the upper story of a building then belonging 
to George W. Ayer, and situated on the site now occupied by the Whittier 
Block, Merrimack Street. 

The church was prospetrous and united for a number of years after its 
organization, though its practice and defence of " religious freedom in act 

* His honse was situated on Merrimack Street, in front of the present Baptist Church, 
t Mr. Plummer was baptized May 2, 1805, by Rev. Elias Smith. 



592 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

and belief" brought upon it no small sbare of opposition, and unpopular- 
ity. But divisions ere long began to creep in between its members, a.nd 
were soon succeeded by general coldness and indiflFerence. The interest 
gradually declined until the fall of 1816, when the meetings appear to 
have been discontinued altogether, and the body ceased to act as a church. 
The last entry in the records is dated October 8th of that year. The 
whole number recorded as baptized previous to the latter date, is one hun- 
dred and thirty-two. The church was supplied wholly by itinerant 
preachers during this period of its history, of whom the following names 
are preserved in the records: — Elders Elias Smith, Abner Jones, Henry 
Pottle, John E. Palmer, Samuel Eand, Frederick Plummcr, Douglas Farn- 
ham, Eamzey, Asa Foster, and John Capron. 

In the fall of 1821, an effort was made to revive the church. A meet- 
ing was held, October 16th, at which Elder Jones preached, but the effort 
to resuscitate was unsuccessful. Matters thus remained until the winter 
and spring of 182.3, when another effort was made, and this time with 
success. At a meeting in April (1823) the living members "covenanted 
anew, and were reorganized as a church. Elder Abner Jones being present.'"' 
Soon after, several persons were hopefully converted. This was followed 
by a glorious revival, in which, we trust, about fifty were brought from 
darkness to light." 

The meetings were now held in the " old Haynes house," so called, 
which stood near the corner of Emerson and Merrimack Streets. Early 
the next spring, (182-1) the church commenced the erection of a neat brick 
chapel, on the west side of AVashington Square, which was completed and 
dedicated the ensuing October. It was called the Christian Union 
Chapel. 

In April, 1825, the church " selected Abel Nichols and George W. Ayer 
for Deacons, upon trial." These appear to have been the first ones chosen.f 
At the same time, Henry Plummer was " selected as Bishop." 

June 16th, of the same year, Elder Ebcnezcr Bobinson was " acknowl- 
edged as Pastor " of the church. He was engaged to preach only a part 
of the time, however, and continued with the society until April 2, 1827, 
when his connection was regularly dissolved. 

August 2, 1826, Henry Plummer was regularly ordained to the work of 
the ministry, in the new chapel, and became the regular pastor of the 
church ; though, through an informality. Elder Bobinson remained nomi- 
nally the pastor until the following April. 

• The whole number was thirty-two — eight males, and twenty-four females, 
t Nidiols resigned the office April 9, 1832. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILI,. 593 

From tlie re-organiization, in April, 1823, to OctolDer of the same year, 
the desk was principally supplied by Elder Jones ; and from the latter date, 
to the settlement of Eobinson, by Elder Henry Tatem. 

In December, 1829, the church "acknowledged Bro John Morse as a 
Deacon." 

At a church meeting August 2, 1830, it was "agreed that the male 
members of this church form a quorum for business, without the voice of 
the female members, except in the receiving and excommunicating mem- 
bers." This, however, was not generally satisfactory, and in the January 
following it was " repealed." 

May 3, 1832, David Evans and Oliver H. Koberts were chosen deacons; 
and in the following month, " James Palmer, Samuel Grreenleaf, Richard 
Woodman, and others, were chosen as helps in the church." 

The number of worshipers had so much increased under the constant 
and earnest labors of Elder Plummer, that in the above year, it was found 
necessary to enlarge the chapel, which was accordingly done. 

Elder Plummer continued the faithful and successful pastor of the 
church, until the spring of 1843, when his connection was dissolved, at 
his own request. During his pastorship, he baptized upward of three 
hundred and eighty persons, and thirty others were received to fellowship." 

From the dismission of Mr. Plummer, in 1843, until 1856, when he 
again assumed the pastoral charge, the church was under the successive 

pastorship of Eev.'s H. P. Guilford, — Pierce, Morrison, 

Timothy Cole, William P. Merrill, Davis, and Martin. 

The only baptisms from December 31, 1843, to November 14, 1847, were 
three, all by Eev. Mr. Merrill, at the latter date. Prom this time there 
were none until subsequent to January, 1850. A revision of the records 
at the latter date found two hundred and seven members in good stand- 
ing. December 1, 1854, John Bond was chosen deacon, 

August 3, 1856, Rev.,Mr. Plummer again received a call to become the 
pastor of the church, which he accepted. At the same time, Oliver H. 
Eoberts was chosen a deacon of the church. April 3, 1867, John Tenney 
and John Brown were chosen to the same office. A revision of the church 
records in 1858, showed a total of one hundred and thirty-seven members 
in good standing, thirty -nine of whom were males. 

Mr. Plummer remained as pastor of the society until the spring of 
1857. He was succeeded (August 29, 1858,) by Eev. Leonard B. Hatch, 

" From the rc-organization, in 1823, to the settlement of Mr. Plummer, in 1820, thirty-five persons 
were received by baptism, and four by letters of recommendation. 

75 



594 HISTORY OF HAVEKHILE. 

who subsequently received a call to settle, and was ordained as their pas- 
tor January 5, 1859. 

Soon after the settlement of Mr. Hatch, the chapel of the society was 
thoroughly re-modeled and repaired ; and a steeple and hell added. The 
whole expense of the improvements was about $8,000. The church was 
re-dedicated May 17, 18G0. The number admitted to the church between 
February 1, 1859, and February 1, 18G1, have been thirty-four, nine of 
them by letter. 

Mr. Hatch continued with the society until April, 1861, when he was 
dismissed at his own request.'-- 

Second Baptist Church. 

About the year 1817, a few persons of the Baptist faith, — not exceed- 
ing fifteen in number, — residing in the extreme easterly part of the town, 
conceived the idea of holding regular religious services in the old school- 
house on the common, a little southeast of the present new school building. 
For this purpose, they joined in engaging the services of a Mr. Merrill, 
of Amesbury, a lay preacher, and from that time regular meetings were 
held on the Sabbath, and were well attenced. Some two years afterward, 
Mr. Merrill was succeeded by a Mr. Westcott — also a lay preacher — 
who preached regularly until the latter part of 1820. 

On the 31st of January, 1821, "A respectable number of the inhabi- 
tants in Haverhill and Amesbury, convened at Wm, Chase's ; " signed the 
articles for a second regular Baptist society in Haverhill ; and after mak- 
ing choice of Cutting Moody as moderator, attended prayers. Having in^ 
voked the divine blessing upon their proceedings, they completed their 
organization, by choosing Wm. D. S. Chase clerk and treasurer, and Cut- 
ting Moody, Samuel Pillsbury , and William Chase, ' ' a committee to pro- 
cure a teacher for the society, and draw orders on the treasurer." At a 
subsequent meeting, the society voted to raise the sum of $100 to support 
preaching that year. The number of persons who united in the organiza- 
tion of the church was eighteen. Phineas Nichols and Stephen Bayley 
were the first deacons. 

In 1822, a meeting-house was erected, and completed in the fall of the 
same year.f In the year following, a steeple was added. The cost of 
the building was about $2,500. 

° Mr. Hatch is a native of Bristol, R. I. He prepared for the ministry at Madison University, Ham- 
ilton, N, y. 

t Tlie land (one-half an acre) was presented to the society, by Wm. D. S. Chase. 



HISTOKY OF HAVERHILL. 595 

In 1823, William Bowen, then a student at Waterville, Maine, sup- 
plied the pulpit during his vacation, and with such acceptance, that he 
was invited to settle here as soon as his studies were completed. He ac- 
cepted the call, and was ordained in the spring of 1825. He continued 
with the society until 1828, when he was discharged at his own request. 
His salary was $270 per year, with the privilege of three Sabbaths' 
vacation. 

From the dismission of Eev. Mr. Bowen-, in 1828, the society was for 
twelve years without a settled minister. During this time, however, sev- 
eral candidates received invitations to settle,'-' but declined. The diflSiculty 
•attending the settlement of a new minister, we understand to have been 
the limited salary oflfer^d, and not, as is too often the reason in similar 
cases, the want of harmony among its members. 

Happily, with the increase of years, there was a corresponding increase 
in the resources of the society; and in June, 1839, Eev. Isaac Wood- 
bury received and accepted a call to settle, at a salary of $450. Mr. 
Woodbury continued his labors with" the society until the early part of 
1842. In March, of that year, Eev. J. M. Harris accepted an invi- 
tation to become their pastor, and was ordained the same spring. His 
salary was $350. Mr. Harris remained with the society until 1848. 

In July, 1850, Eev. A. Brown received a call, and was ordained the 
September following (September 11, 1850). His salary was the same as 
that of his immediate predecessor. Mr. Brown continued with the society 
until early in 1856. In March, of the same year, Eev. C. Fletcher 
received a call to settle, at a salary of $500, — but declined. 

One year later, Eev. Edward Humphreys accepted a similar invitation. 
He was ordained May 28th, and remained as pastor of the church and 
■society until March, 1861, when he was dismissed at his own request. 
The present number of church members is about eighty. 

In 1857, the meeting-house was thoroughly re-modcled, and a bell 
added ; and the house was re-dedicated in November of the same year. 

First ITniversalist Society. 

The fiTst mention we find of religious services being held in the First 
Parish by this denomination, is in February, 1811, when the B^y. Hosea 
Ballon preached in the meeting-house belonging to the above parish, for 
which courtesy, a card of thanks was presented to the parish, by "the 



» Eev. John Jennings, in 1836 ; and Eev. John Burden, in 1838. Besides these, the pnlpit was occh<- 
pied durins this time by Rev. Asa Niles (1829), Mr. Knight (1837), and others. 



59^ HISTORY OF nAVERniLLo 

members of the Universalist Society."'"' There was not, however, a regu- 
lar organization in the town, until March 17, 1823, when fifteen persons 
met at the tavern of Asaph Kendall, " and organized themselves by choos- 
ing Barnard Goodridge Moderator, & Thomas Meady Clerk & Treasurer." 
The name adopted, was, " The First Universalist Society in Haverhill and 
adjacent towns." 

The first sermon before the new society, was preached by Eev. Mr. 
Ballou, shortly after the organization, in the old Masonic (or Assembly) 
Hall, which stood on the north side of Water Street, nearly opposite the 
ferry-way. 

Public services continued to be held in the above Hall, with but few 
interruptions, until their new meeting-house on Summer Street was fin- 
ished. The latter was erected in 1825, and dedicated April 12, 1826. f 

February 28, 1820,^ Kcv. Thomas G. Farnsworth, of Newton, received 
an invitation to settle with the society as their pastor, which was accepted^ 
and he was installed April 1 1 th of the same year. 

The society was " taken into Fellowship " by the General Convention 
of Universalists, in 1828, In 1829, " a stove and funnel and other appa- 
ratus for warming the meeting house," was presented to the society by a 
large number of individuals. The next year, " a large Base Vial " was 
presented. A year still later, the present of a set of blinds for the win- 
dows was also suitably acknowledged. In January, 183G, a fine bell was 
presented to the society, by its members. 

Mr. Fiu-nsworth continued with the society until June, 1833, a period 
of a little more than eight years.J On the 27th of the last named month,^ 
thirty-seven members of the society were dismissed, " to become members 
of the First Parish." For an explanation of this movement, we refer the 
reader to our history of that parish. 

At the close of the memorable strife for the parish funds, the seceding 
members returned, bringing with them their share, as will be seen from 
the following: — 
*' To the Committee of the First Universalist Society in Haverhill — 

Gentlemen. The undersigned, a coiamittee appointed by certain per- 
sons, late members of the First Parish in Haverhill, have certain moneys 

o Merriyaack Intelligencer, March 9, 1811. 

t The mccting-house was of brick, fifty-five feet long- by forty wide, and " with five arched windows- 
each side." It was at first without a steeple. The latter was added nbont 1835. 

X Mr. Farnsworth was aftcnvard settled over the Universalist Society, in the West Parish. In IS-iZ, 
he removed to New Bedford, where he was installed Joue 8th of the same year. He is now a resident ot 
Waltham. 



HISTORY or HAVERHILL. 597 

in their hands, which they are authorized to give to the First Univcrsalist 
Society in Haverhill, on the following conditions : — Said Univcrsalist 
Society are to receive all such persons of the late seceders from the First 
Parish into said society as may signify their wish to do so : If the said 
moneys are accepted by the said First Univcrsalist Society, they are to 
petition the Legislature for an act of incorporation, and appoint trustees 
to manage the same : The income of said moneys to be expended for the 
preaching of the Gospel as understood by the Denomination of Christians 
called Universalists. 

Jany 23, 1835. Signed Ira Noyes ") Committee of the 

E G Eaton > Seceders from 

Andrew Johnson j the First Parish." 

A meeting was held February 2d, and the money accepted. Trustees 
were chosen to manage the fund, and a petition forwarded for an act of 
incorporation, which was granted.--' 

June 2, Kev. Thomas J. Greenwood was invited to settle with the 
society. He accepted, but was released at his own request, August 15th. 

In September, (2d) Eev. Otis A. Skinner, of Baltimore, received and 
accepted a call to become their pastor. He commenced his labors Novem- 
ber 1 st, and was installed over the society the following January (January 
20, 1836).f Mr. Skinner labored with great faithfulness, and in the en- 
joyment of the esteem of all who knew him, until December, 1836, when 
the society reluctantly yielded to his request for a dismission, that he 
might accept a pressing invitation to remove to a more important field of 
labor. He was soon after installed over the Fifth Universalist Society in 
Boston. 

Mr. Skinner was succeeded by Eev. Mathew Hale Smith, who was in- 
stalled February 21, 1837. Mr. Smith continued with the society until 
January 14, 1838, when he was dismissed, to accept a call to settle in 
Salem, to which place he immediately removed. 

During the ministry of Mr. Smith, a church was organized in connection 
with the society. It was organized June 14th, and " publicly recognized," 
June 25, 1837. The officers of the church are, a moderator, two deacons, 
a clerk, and a treasurer. The pastor is ex-officio moderator. The dea- 
cons, previous to 1857, were John Crowell, Samuel Johnson, John S. 
Fuller. The number of admissions to the church during the same period 
were forty-eight. 



■^ The Society was incorporated June 12, 1824. 

t Rev. J. B. Morse was ordained to the ministry at the same time and place. 



598 niSTORT OF nAVERniLL. 

In March, 1838, Eev. Henry Bacon, of East Cambridge, received and 
accepted an invitation to settle with the society, and was installed April 
18th. March 31, 1840, Mr. Bacon was dismissed at his own request. 
He was afterward settled in Philadelphia, where he died, in 185G. 

After the dismissal of Mr. Bacon, the society was without a settled pas- 
tor a little more than a year, during which time invitations were extended 
to a Eev. Mr. Quimby, (July 12, 1840,) and Eev. J. Shrigley, (August 
23, and again November 30, 1840) neither of which were accepted. 

Eev. T. P. Abell, of Castine, Me., commenced preaching for the society 
in March, 1841, and with such acceptance, that, April 4, he was invited 
to settle with them. He accepted, and was installed June 15, of the same 
year. 

Mr. Abell was succeeded, in 1844, by Eev. Massenah Goodrich, who 
continued with the society from November, 1844, to April, 1849. 

May Gth. 1849, Eev. L. B. Mason was invited to become the pastor of 
the society. He accepted, May 20th, and was installed on the 30th of the 
following October. 

In July, 1853, Eev. Calvin Damon, of South Boston, was invited to 
settle with the society, but declined. The following November, Eev. J. 
E. Pomfret received a similar invitation, which was accepted. Mr. Pom- 
fret continued to labor with them until December 31, 1854, when he was 
dismissed, at his request. He immediately took charge of thg society in 
the "West Parish, where he remained until 1S58. He is now engaged in 
the practice of medicine, in Albany, N. Y. 

In 1853, the society purchased the Sheriff Bartlett estate, (where the 
Exchange Building now stands) intending to erect a new church edifice on 
that eligible site. But subsequently, the interest centered on the old 
site, and, in 1854, the above property was sold to Dr. George Cogswell> 
of Bradford, and the society proceeded to erect the j:)rcsent elegant church 
on Summer Street. The new edifice was dedicated January 10, 1856. 

In 1855, the call to Eev. Mr. Damon was renewed, and accepted. Mr. 
Damon labored with general acceptance until October, 1857, when im- 
paired health compelled him to seek a relaxation from pastoral labors, and 
the society yielded to his request for a dismission. 

January 2d, 1857, the church was re-organized, and its Articles of 

Faith, Covenant, &c., revised. The following is its Confession of Faith : 

" Articles of Faith. — 1. We believe in One Licit/ff n.nd True Gody 

who is infinite in Wisdom, Power, and Goodness, and in every possible 

perfection. 2. We believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Son of 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 599 

God, the promised Messiah, and the Savior of the World. 3. We Ibelieve 
in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as being a revelation 
from God, as containing rules for the regulation of our conduct, in all the 
relations and circumstances of life ; as declaring the character and gov- 
ernment of God, the rewards of virtue, the punishment of vice, and also 
revealing the great truth of the final reconciliation of all things to God, 
so that He, at last, shall be ' All in All.' 1 Cor. 15, 18." 
• Since the re-organization, twenty-seven persons have signed the church 
covenant and articles. 

The successor of Mr. Damon, was Eev. William McNeil, who com- 
menced his labors with the society early in 1859, and continued them 
until January 1st, 1860, when he was dismissed at his own request. 

Soon after the dismission of Mr. McNeil, a call was extended to Eev. 
J. W. HansoiL who accepted, and entered upon the duties of the office in 
November. Mr. Hanson is the present pastor of this church and society. =■■■= 

Centre Congregational Church. 

This church and society had its origin in the controversy which arose in 
the First Parish during the pastorship of Eev. Mr. Phelps. Soon 
after the dismission of the latter, in November, 1832, most of the members 
of the church, and others of the society, seceded, and united in the forma- 
tion of an " Independent Congregational Society, "f The first meeting 
was held April 27, 1833, at which about one hundred persons were pre- 
sent, and the new society was organized. The church was organized 
August 28, 1833, with ninety members. Barnard Brickett and Samuel 
Chase were chosen deacons, and on the same day Eev. Joseph Whittlesey, 
of Connecticut, was installed their first pastor. 

The new society worshiped for a time in the Summer Street Church, 
then in the First Parish Church, and for a while in the Academy Hall. 
The corner stone of their first meeting-house was laid June 28, 1834, and 

o John Wesley Hanson was born in Boston, May 12, 1823. He was ordained to the ministry at Went- 
worth, N. H., in June, ISiS, where he remained about one year, when h^lfeccepted a call as pastor of the 
First Universalist Society in Danvers, JL".ss. In 1848, he removed to Norridgwock, Me., where he re- 
mained two years, as pastor of the Universalist Society at that place. Two years later, he accepted a 
call from the First Universalist Society in Gardiner, Me., where he remained until his removal to Haver- 
hill. In addition to his pastoral labors, Mr. Hanson has been almost constantly engaged in other literary 
pursuits. He is the author of a History of Danvers (1847), History of J\'orridi/wock (1851), History 
of Gardiner and Pittston (1853), and of several smaller works. From 1854 to 1860, he was edi- 
tor of the Gospel Banner, a weekly paper, published at Augusta, Me. In 1856 he represented the city 
of Gardiner in the State Legislature. 

t In 1840 the name was changed to " Centre Congregational Society." 



600 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

the edifice was dedicated on the 17th of the December following.- Its 
cost was about $8,000. 

In February, 1837, Mr. Whittlesey was dismissed at his own request. 
During his pastorate fifty were added to the church. In 183G, Ezra C. 
Ames was chosen deacon, in place of Deacon Brickett, deceased. 

After the dismissal of Mr. AVhittlesey, the society experienced consid- 
erable difiiculty in the selection of a successor. Among the candidates 
was Ecv. Job H. Martyn, who occupied the desk for several months. 
When the council, called to consider the matter, finally decided that it 
was inexpedient to settle Mr. Martyn as pastor of the society, sixteen 
members of the church withdrew, and, with others, united in organizing 
the Winter Street " Union Evangelical Church." Finally, a call was ex- 
tended to Eev. Edward A. Lawrence, who accepted and was ordained and 
installed May 4, 1839. 

Mr. Lawrence labored with much acceptance and success until June 12, 
1844, when he was dismissed at his own request. During his pastorate, 
one hundred and twenty-one were added to the church. =■' 

The successor of Mr. Lawrence was Kev. Benjamin F. Horsford, who 
was settled May 21, 1845, and has labored with great faithfulness and 
Buccess until the present time.f 

In 1858, this church and society was again the theatre of intestine com- 
motion. The trouble, which originated from a variety of influences, finally 
culminated in the spring of 1859, in the withdrawal of nearly one hun- 
dred members of the church, who immediately united in a new organiza- 
tion, under the name of the " North Church." Soon after the withdrawal 
of the above members, the parent society remodeled and enlarged their 
house of worship, at an expense of about 11,000. The edifice was re- 
dedicated January 27, 18G0. Large accessions have since been made to 
the church and society, — many of them from the late Winter Street 
society — and, at the present time, it is abundantly blessed with peace 
and prosperity. 



o Mr. Lawrence was born in St- Johnsbury, Vt., October 7, 1808, graduated at Dartmouth College in 
1834, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1838. A few months after leaving Haverhill, he was set- 
tled over the churfh in Marblehead, where ho remained until July, 1854, when he was elected Professor 
of Ecclesiastical History and Pastoral Theoloijy, in the Theological Seminary at I'^ast Windsor Hill, 
Conn., to which place he removed. 

t Mr. Horsford was born in Thetford, Vt, November 11, 1817 ; graduated at Dartmouth, 1838, and at 
Andover Thelogical Seminary, in 1841. He was ordained at Haverhill May 21, 1845 



history op haverhill. 601 

Methodist Episcopal Church. 

The earliest mention we find of this religious denomination in the town, 
is in the records of the West Parish, and we learn from persons now living 
that Methodism was established in the above jjarish many years before it 
took root in the First Parish.'* As near as we have been able to ascertain, 
the first attempt to hold regular meetings in the village, was in 1830, 
when such meetings were held every other Sabbath, for a period of six 
months, in the old Masonic Hall, near the ferry-way. The next move- 
ment of the kind originated with four individuals, — Osgood Gr. Boynton, 
Moses M. Chase, Joseph T. George, and Mrs. , — who com- 
menced meeting as a " class," in April, 183G, at the house of Mr. Boyn- 
ton. Their success was such, that, in the following July, regular weekly 
services were commenced in Academy Hall. For about a year their 
preaching was furnished by itinerants, after which, they were regularly 
supplied by the Conference. The church was regularly organized in the 
spring of 1837, and continued to prosper until about 1842, at which time 
it numbered about two hundred members. For various reasons — promi- 
nent among which were the distractions attendant upon the " Miller 
delusion," — the interest about this time began to decline rapidly. In the 
fall of 1813, the place of meeting was removed from Academy Hall, to 
the new hall in the rear of the old tavern of Kufus Slocomb, known as 
Union Hall. At this place the meetings continued to be kept up for about 
one year, when they were discontinued altogether. 

The present church and society originated in the formation of a class 
of fifteen to twenty members, August 18, 1851. They commenced holding 
regular services in Atheneum Hall, February 14, 1852, with an audience 
of forty persons. The following May, a Sabbath School was organized, 
consisting of four officers and six scholars. March 3, 1854, the society 
was legally organized, in conformity with the laws of the Commonwealth, 
as " The First Methodist Society in Haverhill, Mass." The present ele- 
gant church edifice on Winter Street was erected tl^p same year, at a cost 
of about $10,000, and dedicated February 16, 1855. From that time to 
the present, the society has continued to increase and prosper. 
Winter Street Church. 

This church, at first styled the " Union Evangelical Church, of Haver- 
hill, Mass.,"f was organized in the spring of 1839. Its origin may be 

" It will be seen, by a reference to our history of the West Parish, that the Methodists held religious 
services in the West Parish meeting-house as early as 1806. It is worthy of note that Universalism and 
Methodism both made their first appearance in the town in the West Parish. 

t The name was changed in May, 1853. 

76 



602 HISTORY OF HATERHILl. 

principally traced to the differences, or divisions, which followed the nn- 
successful effort to settle Eev. Job H. Martyn over the Centre Congrega- 
tional church and society. Soon after the final decision of the Ecclesiastical 
Council, (in January, 1839,) that it was inexpedient to instal Mr. Martyn 
over the last named church, he commenced preaching at the Academy 
Hall, whither his earnest manner, and popular style, drew large audiences. 
A deep religious interest was soon awakened, which finally resulted in the 
organization of a new church, of which he was at once the founder and 
the first pastor. The following account of the formation of this church, 
is mostly taken from the early records of the church itself. 

" A number of brethren, members of the Congregational and Baptist 
churches of Haverhill, feeling that the interests of the cause of Christ 
required the organization of a new church in this place, met, at the house 
of brother Joseph Johnson, on Thursday, May 2d, for consultation upon 
the subject. After a season of prayer, and a free and protracted discus- 
sion of the subject, it was unanimously 

Resolved, That in the judgment of this meeting, the interests of the 
cause of Christ demand the -srganization of a new church in this village." 

One week later, an adjourned meeting was held at the same place, when 
" A Confession of Faith, and Form of Covenant, together with several 
fundamental principles of Congregational Church Government were 
brought forward by the Moderator, the Eev. J. H. Martyn ; & after exami- 
nation and discussion, with a few alterations, were approved and adopted." 

The meeting then adjourned to Wednesday, the loth inst., at which 
time " The brethren and sisters who were to compose the new church, 
assembled, at 9 oclk A M, at the house of brother Joseph Johnson, and 
spent the forenoon in prayer, for the blessing of God upon their enterprise. 
At this time most of them subscribed the Confession of Faith. At 2 oclk 
P. M., public services were held at the Academy Hall. The Eev. J. H. 
Martyn preached a sermon on the nature and powers of a church." 

After the sermon, twenty-eight individuals,'-' "having previously ob- 
tained letters of disrafssal from the several churches of which they were 
members, for the purpose, proceeded to organize themselves into a church." 
(The record here gives the names of the persons, and then proceeds.) 

" The principles of Church Government, the Confession of Faith, the 
Fence to the Communion, and the questions for self-examination, were 
read and publicly adopted. ="' '•' =' '-' The Church then proceeded 

• Eleven males and seventeen females. Three of them were received "on Confession of Faith." 



HISTORY OF IIAVERllILL. 6t)3 

te tlie choice of officers ; who were chosen by ballot. The Eev. J. H. 
Martyn was chosen Pastor, and Dea Tappan Chase, and Edward K Dike, 
were chosen Deacons."-' 

May 19th, the new church commenced holding their regular meetings 
in the school-house near the foot of High Street. One week later, thirty- 
one persons (twenty-one of them males) were received to membership in 
the church, by profession. Twenty-one of them were baptized the same 
day, by immersion, and six by sprinkling. The other four had received 
baptism in infancy. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was adminis- 
tered to the church on the above occasion, for the first time. 

As the new church was not organized by a council, according to the 
custom of Congregational churches, some of the neighboring churches 
refused to recognize it as regular, and declined granting letters of recom- 
mendation to those who desired to join it. This did not, however, pre- 
vent the new church from receiving such persons. They were " received 
on Confession." 

Within a month from the first meeting to organize the church, a lot of 
land was purchased, and the erection of a meeting-house commenced. The 
site selected, was that on which the church now stands ' — on the north 
side of "Winter Street, corner of Franklin Street. So rapidly was the 
work pushed forward, that services were held in the new house July 28th, 
— only fifteen days after the frame was raised. Temporary seats were put 
up while the house was being finished. 

The Society was regularly organized August 10, 1839, by virtue of a 
warrant from Charles White, Esq., on the petition of Ezekiel Hale, Jr., 
and nineteen others. 

The pews of the new house were completed in the following March, when 
tliey were appraised, and rented. The rents were payable monthly. This 
plan of raising money for the support of the gospel, continued in opera- 
tion until the house was remodeled, during the ministry of Mr. Comings, 
when the pews were appraised and sold, and the more common plan of 
raising money by annual subscription, was adopted. 

The whole number admitted to membership in the church, during the 
first year of its existence, was one hundred and seventeen, sixty-six of 
whom were admitted by profession. 

* June 16, BenJ. Emerson, 2d, was also chosen deacon. In Januarj', 1846, Alfred Gage was chosen, in 
place of Edward U. Dike, resigned. In 1857, Joseph B. Spillerwas chosen, vice Tappan Chase, deceased. 
The latter was one of the most active and prominent of the first members, of this church and society. 
Says one who knew him well : " Dea. Chase was a rare man. He was a safe counsellor, and an efiicient 
actor. He was ever in his place. The church lost in him a most valuable member." 



G04 HISTORY OF nATERnirx. 

May 3d, 1841, Kev. Mr. Martyn was dismissed, at his own request,, 
after having labored as the pastor of the church for two years. The whole 
number admitted during his pastorship, was one hundred and twenty, all 
but three of whom were admitted during the first year. Mr. Martyn im- 
mediately removed to New York, and was soon after settled over the 
Second Congregational Society of that city. He has since left the work 
of the ministry, and engaged in the j)ractice of medicine. He is now a> 
resident of New Bedford. 

On the 23d of May, 1841, an invitation was extended to Eev. Charles 
Fitch to become the pastor of the church. He accepted, and entered upon 
his charge soon after. His salary was $700. Mr. Fitch continued with 
the church but one 3'ear, when he was succeeded by Eev. George W. Fin- 
ney. He had recently adopted the views of the somewhat celebrated 
William Miller, concerning the second coming of Christ. He preached 
his farewell discourse to the society May 8, 1842, and his successor com- 
menced his labors on the 12th of the following month." 

Eev. Mr. Finney labored with faithfulness and success for two years. 
He was an early and zealous supporter of the Washingtonian movement, 
and his labors in that direction were not without effect. After his release 
from the pastorship of this church, he was for several years employed by 
the State Temperance Society as its Agent, in which capacity he travelled 
somewhat extensively. He is now a resident of California. 

It was during the pastorship of Eev. Mr. Finney, that the extraordinary 
religious excitement occurred, of which we have already made mention. 
In this remarkable delusion, many of the members of this church became 
participants, and it was nearly ten years before the church recovered from 
the disastrous shock. Some idea of its extent, may be judged from the 
fact that, in 1845, ten members of the church were excommunicated, and 
nine others stricken fi'om the roll. These were " those who went qff'trom 
this church during the excitement of '43 and '44, called the Miller ex- 
citement." From March, 1843, to May, 1853, we find no society records ; 
and from a petition dated May Gth, of the latter year, we learn that, "for 
the want of officers, the society were unable to assemble in the usual man- 
ner," and it was therefore organized anew. 

The successor of Eev. Mr. Finney, was the Eev. D. N. Merritt, who 
commenced his labors with the church January 1, 1844. He received an 
invitation to settle, in January, 1846, which was accepted in the March 

<* Mr. Fitch died in Cleveland, Ohio, soon after. 



HISTORY OF IIAVERniLL. 605 

following, and he was installed in April. Mr. Merritt remained pastor of 
the church until July 10, 1848, when he resigned." 

In the November following, Eev. E. J. Comings received a call to settle 
as pastor of the church. He accepted, and entered upon his diities Decem- 
ber 5, 1848. His salary was $400. He served as pastor until April 25, 
1852, when he was dismissed, at his own request. He soon after went to 
Ohio, and subsequently to Vermont, where he still resides. 

April 28, 1850, (during the pastorship of Eev. Mr. Comings) the 
church unanimously voted to invite an ecclesiastical council, to consider 
the subject of receiving the church into fellowship with the other churches. 
The council met May 7th, and, after due deliberation, resolved to recog- 
nize the church, and receive them into fellowship, provided they would 
" adopt the Congregational platform as the basis of their ecclesiastical 
order." May 10th, the church unanimously agreed to the terms, and on 
the 15th of the same month, it was publicly recognized and received into 
fellowship, as proposed. 

The total number of recorded admissions to the church, from the close 
of its first year to January 1, 1853, is forty. We find no record of 
admissions from 1852 to December 1858, though it is certain there were 
admissions during that period. 

March 16, 1853, Eev. Leonard S. Parker was unanimously called to the 
pastorate of this church. He was installed June 1st of the same year. 
His salary was $800. Under his ministry there was a steady and healthy 
growth of the church and society, the former nearly trebling in numbers, 
and the latter increasing in proportion. The Sabbath school became one 
of the largest in town, .including many children whose parents attended 
public worship nowhere. In 1854, several members of the church united 
in building a house to be occupied as a parsonage. In 1856, a fine organ 
was placed in the church at an expense of $1,000. In 1858, the congre- 
gation had increased to such an extent, that the house of worship was 
enlarged by the addition of twenty pews. At the same time a large and 
convenient vestry was built in the basement, and other extensive improve- 
ments made in and about the edifice. The whole cost of these changes fell 
a little short of $3,000. The same year the pastor's salary was increased 
to $1,000. The formation of the North Congregational Church led to the 
inquiry whether it was best for the cause of Christ to have three churches 
of the same order in the village, especially as the religious wants of the 
community were largely met by the new churches of other denominations. 
The unhappy revival of a family feud soon after, which found its way into 

•* In 1833, he was deposed from the ministry, for gross immorality. 



606 niSl?ORT OF IIAVERniLt. 

tlie church, and resisted its utmost efforts to settle it, although aided by the 
unanimous decision of two councils, and in August, 1859, issued in 
the secession of thirty-four persons from the church, strengthened the opin- 
ion of some, that the disbandment of this church might be a christian 
duty. After many meetings for conference and prayer in reference to the 
subject, and taking the advice of the neighboring pastors and churches, 
the conclusion was reached to unite with the other churches in town. 
Eev. Mr. Parker accordingly resigned his charge, and was dismissed by an 
ecclesiastical council March 26, 1860, and a few months later was installed 
as the pastor of the First Church and Parish in Derry, N. H. The church 
having previously granted letters to many of its members, on the 25th of 
June, 1860, voted letters to all the remaining members in regular stand- 
ing, and then voted to disband. The church edifice was soon after sold 
to the Free-will Baptist Society for $11,000, including the organ. 

Though this church existed but twenty-one years, and passed through 
Bcvere trials, yet its usefulness was marked, especially during a part of its 
history. The stranger was ever welcomed ; and the young were particu- 
larly cared for. Probably no society in town has been sustained by more 
cheerful, generous, and self-denying benefactions. Many of its former 
members are now adding to the strength and usefulness of other churches, 
while some have joined, the church in heaven. 

TuE Tabernacle Cuurcu. 

When Eev. Henry Plummer left the Christian Union Society, in 1843-, 
he was accompanied by a number of the principal members of that church, 
among whom were the two deacons, — Deacons John Morse and David 
Evans, These were joined by others, '■■= who believed with them that the 
second coming of Christ was then near at hand, and immediately after, a 
temporary building was erected by thera for worshipping purposes, in the 
rear of Essex Street, near the freight depot of the Boston & Maine Eailroad 
Company, which was known as " The Tabernacle." They temporarily 
organized by the choice of Mr. Plummer as pastor, and the above named 
Morse and Evans as deacons. 

In 1852, the Tabernacle building was removed, and the present larger 
and more pernianent building was erected in its place. The new chapel 
was dedicated January 27, 1853. 

Mr. Plummer remained as pastor of the society until 1855, when ho 
resigned his charge, and entered upon a new field of labor — that of an 
Evangelist. In 1858, the Tabernacle building was sold at public auction, 

• Principally from the Winter Street Church. 



H 




¥.■ ^ 






>'^/. 






■H.^ 



r^^^^-f^ 



^ 




HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 607 

and was purchased by Mr. Plummer, who immediately re-commenced 
holding regular services in it, at the solicitation of some ten or twelve 
families of his former charge, and has so continued from that time to the 
present. 

The church and society worshipping in the Tahernacle, at the time of the 
transfer of the property, in 1858, immediately removed to the Atheneum 
Hall, where they have continued to hold meetings, a part of the time only, 
until the present time. 

Eev. Henry Plummer, the founder of the Tabernacle church and society, 
and for so long a time its spiritual leader, is a native of this town, where 
he was born February 22, 1794. At an early age he learned the trade of 
a baker, and in 1823 established himself in that business in this town. 
He was engaged in this business at the time of his ordination to the 
ministry, and for some time subsequently, when he was appointed Agent 
of the Haverhill & Boston Stage Company, and relinquished the former 
business. In 1831, he removed to Philadelphia, and engaged in the shoe 
business, with his brothers. He also preached in that vicinity regularly 
upon the Sabbath. While in Philadelphia, he was frequently urged to 
return and take charge of his former church, and finally consented, after 
being absent about a year. Upon his return, the chapel was enlarged, of 
which we have already given an account. 

It is worthy of note, that Mr. Plummer has never received a regular 
salary as pastor. From his ordination, in 1826, to his removal, in 1831, 
his pastoral labors were entirely gratuitous, unless we except an occasional 
individual donation. He was induced to return to his former charge in 
1832, by assurances of an adequate support, and from that time to the 
present he has labored faithfully and constantly in his chosen field, relying 
upon the free-will offerings of his church and people. He believes that 
" the gospel should be free," and that its preaching should never be made 
a matter of bargaining; and for nearly forty years he has applied the 
principle to his daily practice. Mr. Plummer is a man of more than 
ordinary ability, perseverance, and consistency ; and whether we regard 
him as a preacher of the gospel, or as a neighbor and a citizen, he has 
always commanded the respect, the confidence, and the love of all. 

St. Gregory's Church. 

The first time that religious services were held in the town, upon the 
Sabbath, according to the forms of the Eoman Catholic Church, was 
the second Sabbath in September, 1850. Previous to this time, the town 
had been occasionally visited by the ofliciatiug priest at Lawrence, who 



G08 HISTORY OF nAVERHILL. 

had several times held religious services with the people of that faith, upon 
a week-day. On the 10th of August, 1850, Eev. John T. McDonnell, a 
native of Galway, Ireland, arrived in Boston, and was immediately sent to 
Haverhill, for the purpose of establishing a church at this place." On the 
second Sunday in September, mass was performed for the first time. A 
few days later, the foundations for a church edifice were laid, and on the 
4th of July, 1852, the new church was appropriately dedicated. A commo- 
dious house for the priest was also erected immediately adjoining the 
church. In 1859 the church edifice was considerably enlarged, to make 
room for the increasing congregation. Soon after the completion of the 
above improvements, a school for Catholic children was opened in the 
vestry of the church, by Mr. Francis J. Nichols, which is still in a flourish- 
ing condition. 

Trinity Church. 

The following account of the early history of this church, is principally 
taken from a pamphlet entitled " An Historical Sketch of the Church 
Missionary Association of the Eastern District of the Diocese of Massachu- 
setts," by Eev. AVm. S. Perry, Boston, 1859:— 

Toward the close of the year 1853, a renewed missionary spirit seems 
to have pervaded the Association. A committee appointed at the forty- 
third meeting, held at St. Stephen's, Lynn, July 19th and 20th, of that 
year, to address the Diocesan Board with reference to the appointment of 
an itinerant missionary for the Eastern district, and to devise means for 
his support, reported at a subsequent meeting the favorable answer of the 
Secretary of the Board, and an assessment on the parishes of the district 
for the amount of eight hundred dollars. In view of this response, and 
the circumstances of the town of Haverhill, a committee was appointed to 
visit this place, and to hold services there if deemed expedient. This was 
the beginning of another and a most flourishing parish. 

Forming, as it did, the residence of the Rev. Moses Badger, M. A., 
itinerant missionary of the venerable society for the Propagation of the 
Gospel in Xew Hampshire and parts adjacent, from the years 1767 to 1774, 
it can hardly be supposed that one so efficient in ferreting out, in towns 
and hamlets, the scattering churchmen of his cure, should not have occa- 
sionally held services in Haverhill, the home of his family and his 
connections by marriage. In confirmation of this supposition, we may refer 
to casual allusions in the " Frontier Missionary," to exchanges between 

o Rev. Mr. McDonnell was born May 20, 1822. He was educated principally at Rome, and came to 
America soon after the completion of his studies. 



HISTORY OP UAVERHILL. 609 

the Rev. Jacob Bailey, of Maine, and Mr. Badger, which strengthen the 
inference that the services of the church were, from time to time, held at 
Haverhill. Be this as it may, the Eev. Eana Cossit, who was licensed by 
the Bishop of London to officiate in New England, March 27th, 1773, 
and who seems to have shared to a certain extent the itineracy of Mr. 
Badger, is expressly registered in the records at Fulham as incumbent of 
" Haverhill parish."'-' 

From this time until about the year 1820, but few services appear to 
have been held in this immediate vicinity, f At this date, an effort was 
made to introduce the church in Haverhill, and services were celebrated in 
a hall for nearly six months, with a regular attendance of about sixty 
persons, embracing some of the most intelligent and influential men of the 
town. The pulpit was supplied by the Rev. Drs. Wainwright and Eaton, 
of Boston, l^lorss, of ISTewburyport, and others, and in their absence, the 
services were conducted and sermons read by Mr. Hovey, a devoted church- 
man of the place, and a young lawyer, the present Hon. J. H. Duncan. 
Soon after, Mr. Hovey was removed by death, and, for want of ability to 
secure the services of a resident clergyman, the effort was discontinued. 

Occasional services were, however, held from 1833 to 1835, mainly 
through the personal exertions of A. W. Thayer, Esq., now of Northampton, 
Mass. The Rev. James Cook Richmond, at that time in deacon's orders, 
officiated several times, in the Baptist meeting-house, during the winter of 
1833 and the following summei'. On Sunday, March 1st, 1835, the Rt. 
Eev. Alexander V. Griswold, D. D., Bishop of the Eastern Diocese, 
preached three times to large and attentive congregations, in one of the 
meeting-houses of the town. 

Early in the month of June, 1855, Charles Wingate.f a parishioner of 
St. Peter's, Philadelphia, removed from that city to Haverhill, his native 
town. Anxious to extend to his relatives and friends the privilege of the 
church of his love, he at once began his efforts by opening, on the 1 7th of 
the same month, as a preparatory step, a Sunday school in a neighboring 
school-house. A correspondence with the Rector of Christ Church, Boston, 
requesting a supply of Testaments for the little school, revealed, inci- 
dentally, to Mr. Wingate, the fact that another gentleman in that vicinity, 

» See p.-'.ge 37 S. 

t We find, in the Merrimack Intdligcncer of Auafust 20, 1S14, the following: — "The Eev. Asa Eaton, 
Rector of Christ Church, Boston, is expected to preach to the Episcopal Society in this town, tomorrow." 
This is, we believe, the only reference of the kind we have noticed in an examination of a nearly complete 
file of Haverhill newspapers from 1793 to 181G. — G. W. C. 

X Mr. Wingate is a son of Moses Wingate, Esq., and is now Rector of a flourishing church in New- 
port, R. I. 

77 



610 HISTORY OF HAVERniLL. 

Mr. B. K. Downes, of Bradford, was a churchrQan. An interview with 
Mr. Downcs resulted in the securing of the Unitarian meeting-house for 
July 22d ; on which occasion the llev. Dr. Packard of Lawrence officiated 
morning, afternoon, and evening, to large and interested congregations. 
So great an interest was excited, that a vigorous effort for the introduction 
of the church in this important town was resolved upon. In view of the 
pressing need of immediate action, the Rev. Thomas F. Tales, of Waltham, 
wrote at once to the Eev. W. Colvin Brown, at that time connected with 
the diocese of Missouri, inviting him in behalf of the Association, to take 
charge of the new movement, and offering to be personally responsible for 
his salary until his appointment was confirmed. Mr. Brown, accepted this 
invitation, reached Haverhill on the 11th of August, and the following 
day held the first regular service of the new enterprize in the chapel of the 
Centre Congregational Society. Beginning with a congregation of from 
twenty to thirty at the morning service, and a fuller attendance at Evening 
prayer, the increase was steady and promising. The Association at their 
next meeting approved the course of Mr. Fales, and immediately undertook 
the whole support of Mr. Brown. On the 8th of October, 1855, a parish 
was organized by the name of Trinity Church, and the Eev. Mr. Brown 
invited to the rectorship. Pledges to the amount of $2,000 for church- 
building purposes were immediately secured in the town, which were con- 
siderably increased in Lowell, and subsequently in Boston ; and so speedy 
was the success of this new movement, that on the 15th of the following 
May, the Bishop of the diocese laid the corner stone of a neat and beautiful 
building, which, on the 7th of January, 1857, was consecrated by him to 
the worship of Almighty God. The consecration of this new church, 
costing, with the ground, $6,500, of which amount $4,800 was raised in 
Haverhill, and the remainder contributed by friends in Boston, Lowell, 
Waltham, Andover, and Lawrence, was rendered doubly pleasant to the 
parishoners by the meeting at the same time of the Church Missionary 
Association of the Eastern District, to whose willing help this rewarding 
result was mainly due. 

Eev. Mr. Brown remained with this church until June, 1858, when he 
accepted the Eectorship of Zion Church, Newport, E. I., where he still 
resides. In October of the same year, Eev. Charles H. Seymour commenced 
his labors with this church, under whose care it has steadily continued to 
increase and prosper. The number of church members at the present time 
is about seventy. 

Mr. Seymour is a native of Watcrtown, Conn., where he was born May 
15, 1829. He graduated at Trinity College, Hartford, in 1851 ; was 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 611 

admitted to Deacon's orders in 1855, and Priest's orders in 1859. In 
1850, (continuing'Ms college studies in the meantime) he became connected 
with the Military school, at Hamden, as instructor, where he remained 
about three years, when he established a similar school at West Hartford, 
under the name of " St. James' School." In 1854 he disposed of his 
interest in this school, and soon after opened another upon the same 
general plan, at Litchfield, in the same State, under the name of the 
" Wolcott Institute." Both of these schools are still in successful opera- 
tion. In 1855 he was elected Principal of the " Punchard Free School, " 
at Andover, Mass., to which place he immediately removed, and where he 
remained until called to take charge of the above church, in 1858. 

The Third Baptist Church. 

The flattering and almost unexampled prosperity of the First Baptist 
Society in the years immediately preceding 1858, led to the consideration 
of the question whether it was best to provide adequate worshiping accom- 
modations for the large and rapidly increasing number of applicants, by 
an enlargement of the already capacious church edifice, or by the organiza- 
tion of a new society. After much consideration, the latter course was 
decided upon, and thirty members of the church withdrew for that purpose, 
and commenced holding religious services in the Town Hall, on Sunday, 
December 12, 1858, under the direction of Eev. Benjamin Wheeler. 
Early in the following February, the new church was regularly organized. 
They continued to worship in the above named hall until January, 1861, 
when they removed to the new building on Winter Street, near Spring 
Street, known as Music Hall, and which had been erected by some of the 
members of the society, partly for that purpose. The present number of 
church members is about one hundred and twenty. 

Piev. Benj. Wheeler, the pastor of this church and society, is a native of 
Salem, N. H., where he was born March 14, 1807. He fitted for the 
ministry principally at New Hampton, N. H., and was ordained as first 
pastor of the First Baptist Society in Plaistow, N. H., in November, 1836. 
With this society, the fruit of his first, earnest, and well-directed 
ministerial labor, he remained until April, 1852, when he accepted an 
invitation to a larger field of labor, and was settled over the First Baptist 
Society in Eandolph, Mass. In 1858, impaired health induced him to 
resign his position as pastor of the above church, and accept the charge of 
the proposed new society in Haverhill. He came to this town in Decem- 
ber, 1858, immediately entered upon the work, and was installed as its 
first pastor, at the organization of the new church, in February, 1859. 



612 history of hateriiill. 

The North Church. 

The North Congregational Society was organized March 1, 1859, an^ 
the Church was constituted on the 30th of the same month. This Church 
had its origin in the diflPerences which convulsed the Centre Church and 
Society in the year prcccdiug, and, with a few exceptions, was at first com- 
posed of members of the latter, who had been regularly dismissed for that 
purpose. April 12th, a call was extended to Eev. B. F. Horsford, to become 
the pastor of the new church, which was declined. Soon after, an eligible 
lot of land was purchased, situated on the south-east corner of Maine and 
White Streets, and July 20th the.corner stone of a new church edifice was 
laid, with appropriate ceremonies. July 28th a call was extended to Eev. 
Alonzo U. Quint, of Jamaica Plain, which was also declined. 

The new church edifice was completed the following winter, and was 
dedicated February 21, 1860. The cost, including the organ, was within 
a fraction of $30,000. The number of pews is one hundred and thirty-two, 
ninety-three of which were sold for a total of $22,500. From the organi- 
zation of the church, until their new place of worship was ready for 
occupancy, regular services were held in the First Parish Church. 

June 4, 1860, a call was extended to Eev. E. H. Seeley, which was 
accepted, and he was installed August 8th of the same year. 

Eev. Eaymond H. Seeley, is a native of Norwalk, Conn. He graduated 
at the New York City University, in 1839, and at the Union Theological 
Seminary, New York city, in 1842, and was ordained as pastor of the 
Congregational Church in Bristol, Conn,, July 5, 1843. In March, 1849, 
he was called to the pastorship of the North Church in Springfield, Mass., 
where he remained until February, 1858, when he was selected to take 
charge of the American Chapel, in Paris. He remained in Paris until 
November, 1859, when he i*eturned to Springfield, from which place he 
removed to Haverhill, in August, 1860. 

Free-will Baptist Church. 

This society originated in 1858, when a number of persons in Haverhill 
and Bradford, believing in the principles of faith as laid down in the order 
of the Free-will Baptist denomination, commenced holding regular meetings 
in the Atheneum Hall, on Main Street. The first services were held June 
27th, by Eev. William C. Clark. Soon after, a lot of land was purchased 
on the east side of White Street, near Winter Street, and a vestry, capable 
of accommodating two hundred persons, was immediately erected on the 
rear of the lot. The building was dedicated January 6, 1859, at which 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 613 

time a cKurch was regularly organized. The latter consisted of twenty- 
three members. 

Soon after the organization of the church, a difficulty arose among its 
members, which finally, December 10, 1859, resulted in a division of the 
church, — or, rather, the secession of a part of its members, including its 
pastor. A few months later, (April, I860,) the original society purchased 
the church edifice of the Winter Street Congregational Society, then 
recently disbanded, at a cost of $11,000, and immediately removed to that 
place. 

A call was soon after extended to Eev. Joseph S. Burgess, then of 
Lewiston, Me., which was accepted, and he was regularly settled over the 
church and society in the following October. 

Kandall Church. 

This church and society had its origin in the schism which took place in 
the Free-will Baptist Church, in 1859, and was originally composed of the 
members who seceded from that church, December 10, 1859. Soon after 
the above division, the seceders commenced holding meetings in a hall 
finished for that purpose in the house of their pastor, Eev. Mr. Clark, on 
Duston Street. On the 13th of April, 1860, the hall was formally dedi- 
cated, and a church regularly organized by a council, under the name 
of the " Eandall Church." ■■■= The latter now numbers fifty-four members. 
Though organized by a council, the church as yet stands as an " indepen- 
dent" church, not having applied for admission to the fellowship of the 
other churches of the denomination. 

Eev. Wm. C. Clark, the pastor, is a native of Middleborough, Mass., 
where he was born, September 13, 1817. He prepared for the ministry 
principally at Holliston Wesleyan Academy, and was ordained at Lowell, 
in 1846, by the N. E. Wesleyan Methodist Conference, as pastor of the 
church at Leicester, Mass. In 1848 he removed to Duxbury, where he 
remained as pastor of a similar church, until 1850, when he accepted a call 
from the church in Eockport, Mass., where he remained one year, when he 
removed to Exeter, N. H. He continued with the church in Exeter until 
1855, when he removed to Elliot, Me. Two years later, he removed to 
Hampton, where he resided until called to take charge of the new movement 
in this town, in 1858. 

Free Evangelical Church. 

In May, 1858, a new religious society was organized in the Central 
village, under the name of the Free Evangelical Church. Eev. Charles H. 

o Xhe church is named for Benjamin Randall, the founder of the Free-will Baptist denomination in 1780. 



14 HISTORY OF HAYERHILL. 

Cole, (who had been for some time employed as a missionary in the town,) 
was chosen pastor. The object of the organization of this society, was, to 
provide a free meeting for all who could not, or did not choose to attend 
any other church. Sustained by the contributions of the public generally, 
it was for a time successful in accomplishing its object. The attendance 
was quite large, — many being induced to attend who had long been 
strangers in a religious meeting, — and the interesting Sabbath school 
connected with the society was the means of exerting an extensive and 
favorable influence over large numbers, who otherwise would not have been 
reached. Owing to a variety of causes, prominent among which may be 
mentioned the formation of several other new churches, and the extensive 
increase of worshipping accommodations, this society failed to receive 
sufficient support, and, after an existence of about two years, the organiza- 
tion was abandoned. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 615 



CHAPTEE XXX. 



BIOGRAPHY AND GENEALOGY. 



Ayer, John, SalislDury, 1640, had Hannah, bom 21st December, 1644, 
removed to Ipswich 1646, Haverhill 1647, there died 31st March, 1657. 
(See page 73). John, Haverhill, son of the preceding, born in England, 
married oth May, 1646, Sarah, daughter of John "Williams of the same, 
and next, after 1659, Susanna, daughter of Mark Symonds, of Ipswich, 
and removed to Brookfield as one of its first settlers, there killed by the 
Indians when they destroyed the town, 3d August, 1675. He kept the 
inn, and his children were (besides Sarah) Samuel, John, Thomas, Joseph, 
Mark, Nathaniel, and Edward, of whom some lived at Brookfield after its 
renovation. Another John, perhaps a son, perhaps a nephew of the pre- 
ceding, was of Ipswich, lately from Haverhill, in 1679, and had a wife 
Mary. Peter, of Haverhill, 1646, youngest son probably of the first 
John, married 8th October, 1659, Hannah, daughter of "William Allen, 
was freeman in 1666, a representative in 1683-5-9, and 90, and died at 
Boston 3d January, 1699, aged about 66. Eohert, of Haverhill, brother 
of the preceding, freeman 1666, married in 1659, Elizabeth, daughter of 
Henry Palmer, of the same, and had Samuel. Samuel, of Haverhill, son 
of Piobert, freeman, 1683, married Elizabeth, daughter of Simon Tuttle, 
had Obadiah, (Harvard College, 17lO,) John, and James; was selectman 
and killed by the Erench and Indians when they surprised the town in 
August, 1708. Thomas, of Haverhill, 1646, was probably son of John 
the first, and may have removed to Newbury, there had John, born May 
12, 1657, and was freeman 1666.=-"' 

Badger, Gen. Joseph, was the eldest child of Joseph Badger, a mer- 
chant of Haverhill, where he was born January 11, 1722. His mother, 
Hannah, was a daughter of Colonel Nathaniel Peaslee, one of the wealthi- 
est and most influential men of this town. 

The first person of that name in this vicinity, was Giles Badger, who 
settled in Newbury, Mass., 1643, and died July 17, 1647. His son, John 
Badger, born June 30, 1643, by his first wife, Elizabeth, had John, died 
in infancy; John, born April 26, 1665 ; Sarah, and James. Mrs. Badger 

° The above \» from Savage's Uist. and Gen. Diet. 



616 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

died April 8, 1669. He married, for his second wife, Hannah Swett, 
February 23, 1671, hy whom he had Stephen, Hannah, Nathaniel, Mary, 
Elizabeth, Euth, Joseph, Daniel, Abigail, and Lydia. John Badger died 
March 31, 1691, of the small pox, and his wife soon after, of the same 
disease. John Badger, Jr., a merchant in Newbury, married Eebecca 
Brown, October 5, 1691, and had John, James, Elizabeth, Stephen, Vo^ep^, 
(born 1698) Benjamin, Dorothy. Joseph Badger, son of John, Jr., was 
the above mentioned merchant of Haverhill, and the father of seven chil- 
dren, Joseph, Judith, Mchetable, Mary, Nathaniel, Mary, and Peaslee. 
Only two of them lived to settle in life, viz. : Joseph and Judith. Mrs. 
Badger died January 15, 1734. July 29, 1735, he married for his second 
wife, Hannah, the widow of Ebenezer Pearson, whose maiden name was 
Moody. She had by her first husband, six children, Hannah, Moody, 
Euth, Ebenezer, Thomas, and Samuel. By her second husband, Mr. Bad- 
ger, she had three, Enoch, Nathaniel, and Moses. Moses married a 
daughter of Judge Saltonstall, and settled as an Episcopal minister in 
Providence, E. I. Enoch moved to Gilmanton, N. H., and died in San- 
down. Mr. Badger died April 7, 1760, aged 62. 

Gen. Joseph Badger, son of Joseph, the merchant, married Hannah 
Pearson, daughter of his father's second wife, by a former husband, Janu- 
ary 31, 1740.=' Their children were AVilliam, Hannah, Mehetable, 
Joseph,! Eebecca, Euth, Peaslee, Ebenezer, Mary and Nathaniel (twins), 
Sarah, and Judith. Gen. Badger, (then Capt.) went to Gilmanton, N. H., 
then a new settlement, in the spring of 1763, sowed and planted his land, 
and removed his family in the July following. His was the eighteenth 
family in the new settlement, and at the raising of his barn that season, 
(the first framed building erected in the town,) he had, as he often after- 
ward related, every man, woman, and child, to take supper with him. J 
Before removing to Gilmanton, he lived in Haverhill and Bradford. 

Gen. Badger, while a youth, served in the militia in the capacity, suc- 
cessively, of Ensign, Lieutenant, and Captain. He was frequently a 
selectman of the town, and moderator of its meetings. He was appointed, 
at the age of twenty-three, a Deputy Sheriff for the County of Essex, 
which office he held until he removed from Massachusetts to New Hamp- 

•» His only sister, Jndith, married at the same time Nathaniel Cogswell, a merchant of Haverhill, by 
whom she had nineteen children. 

t Afterward known as the Hon. Joseph Badger, and the father of Hon. Wm. Badger, late Governor 
of New Hampshire. 

t Mr. Badger became a proprietor in the new town by purchasing shares that were forfeited and sold 
at auction. 



HISTORY or HAVERHILL. 617 

sliire, in 1763. He was tlie first magistrate in the place, and his commis- 
sion as Justice of the Peace, was renewed in 176S. He also officiated in 
various offices in the town. In July, 1771, he was appointed Colonel of 
the Tenth Kegiment. 

In the time of the Eevolution, Col. Badger was an active and efficient 
officer. He was muster-master of the troops raised in his section of the 
State, and was employed in furnishing supplies for the army. He was a 
member of the Provincial Congress, and also of the Convention which 
adopted the Constitution. 

In 1784, he received the commission of Justice of the Peace and Quo- 
rum throughout the State. The same year, he was commissioned, in 
company with John Wentworth, John Plumer, and Ebcnezer Smith, to 
administer the oaths of office and allegiance to the civil and military offi- 
cers of the County. He was appointed Brigadier-General, June 27, 1780, 
and Judge of Probate for Strafford County, December 6, 1784, which 
office he held till May 13, 1797, when he resigned. He was also a mem- 
ber of the State Council in 1784, 1790, and 1791. 

As a military man. Gen. Badger was commanding in his person, well 
skilled in the science of tactics, expert as an officer, and courageous and 
faithful in the performance of every trust. With him, order was law, 
rights were sacred, and the discharge of duty was never to be neglected. 
He was a uniform friend and supporter of the institutions of learning and 
religion. He not only provided for the education of his own children by 
procuring private teachers, but he also took a lively interest in the early 
establishment of common schools for the education of children generally. 
Not content with such efforts merely, he did much in founding and erecting 
the Academy in Gilmanton. He was one of the most generous contribu- 
tors to its funds, and was one of its trustees, and the President of the 
Board of Trust, until his death. He was also a generous supporter of 
the gospel, a consistent christian, and to his hospitable mansion the minis- 
ters of religion always found a most hearty welcome. 

Gen. Badger was nearly six feet in stature, somewhat corpulent, light 
and fair in complexion, and dignified and circumspect in his manners and 
conversation. His whole life was marked by wisdom, prudence, integrity, 
firmness, and benevolence. Great consistency was manifested in all his 
deportment. He died April 4, 1803, in the 82d year of his age, ripe in 
years, in character, in reputation, and as a christian. The text selected 
for his funeral sermon was strikingly appropriate : — " And behold, there 
was a man named Joseph, a counsellor ; and he was a good man and a 
just." 

78 



618 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

His •widow died February 19, 1817, aged 95. Her children were twelve, 
grand-cliildren forty-five, gi-eat-grand-children ninety-five, and her great- 
great-grand-children tvFenty-five.'"' 

Baetlett, Hon. Bailey. The following sketch of this estimable man is 
from the Essex Gazette, of September 11, 1830: — 

" Died in this town, on Thursday last, (September 9, 1830,) the Hon. 
Bailey Bartlett, the venerable Sherifi" of Essex County, aged LXXX. 
Mr. Bartlett was descended from one of the earliest settlers of Newburyport. 
His paternal ancestor, John Johnson, was settled in Haverhill, by a formal 
writing with its principal inhabitants in 1657, who conveyed to him a 
house on the site of the mansion of Sheriff Bartlett, on condition of his 
doing the Smith's business for the Village for seven years. Mr. Johnson 
lived to an advanced age, when he and his wife were butchered by the 
Savages, and his house burnt, when Haverhill was attacked in 1708. His 
grand-daughter was married to Dr. Joshua Bayley, a distinguished Surgeon 
in the British Navy, and afterwards Physician in the village of Haverhill. 
Sherifi" Bartlett was the only son of one of his three daughters, and was 
named for his grand-father. His father was an importing merchant, and 
kept an English Goods sto»e, as did the Sherifi", until 1789. Mr. Bartlett 
received only a common school education, but a taste for reading marked 
every period of his life from youth to old age ; and very few men in the 
country have read more than Mr. Bartlett. He also had a great taste for 
agriculture, to which he devoted much time, and in this pursuit he made 
many useful and successful experiments. He was early a member of the 
Agricultural Society of the State and of the County. A taste for Mechanics 
was also a distinguished trait in the character of Mr. Bartlett. In his 
ofiice he kept a Lathe and the tools of a joiner, and some of the handsomest 
pieces of furniture were made by him for the various members of his family ; 
this was indeed his favorite amusement. He particularly directed his 
attention to the art of constructing bridges and suggested many improve- 
ments in that art. 

Living at the most interesting period of our revolution, he early mingled 
in political life. He was one of the earliest and most constant friends of 
the venerable John Adams, and the fellow boarder with him and Samuel 
Adams, in Philadelphia, on the 4th of July 1776. He was present in the 
yard of Congress Hall, when the Declaration of Independence was first 
proclaimed, and he has often observed that it was received with great 
murmuring by the crowd there assembled. In 1783 he represented the 

" The above notice of Gen. Badijer, and his family, is mostly taken from Lancaster's History of 
Gilmanton, y. H. 



\ 




itiMufii>rd:< lUh.Bo-'l^" 




HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 619 

town of Haverliill in the House of Eepresentatives, and in 1789, the County 
of Essex in the Senate. On the first of July of that year he was appointed 
Sherifi" of Essex. Gov. Hancock presented him the Commission in person, 
and stated to him that he did it with peculiar pleasure as it was the only 
nomination during his administration that met the unanimous concurrence 
of his council. He held the Office until the day of his death, with the 
exception of about six months, from Dec. 5th, 1811, to June 20th, 1812, 
when he was made the victim of the unfortunate policy of Gov. Gerry, 
which resulted in his defeat at the subsequent election. During the time 
that Mr. Bartlett was thus out of Office, his fellow citizens with gi-eat 
unanimity elected him Treasurer of the County. In his Office of Sheriff 
he was distinguished by his courtesy — his house was the mansion of 
elegant hospitality. Kind and indulgent almost to a fault to the unfortu- 
nate victims of the law, his purse often paid the exactions of the unfeeling 
creditor rather than imprison the poor debtor. In all cases of difficulty 
he was firm, fearless and immoveable. Though decided in his politics, he 
never suffered political feeling to enter into his official duties, and many of 
his deputies were his warmest political opponents. His kind treatment to 
the victim of a political libel estranged some of Mr. Bartlett's political 
friends, but added to his character one of his brightest laurels. The same 
thing took place, when during the great excitement of the late war, an 
attempt was made to tax the humane Marshal of Massachusetts with 
barbarous treatment of the British prisoners, the Sheriff immediately fear- 
lessly vindicated the character of Marshal Prince and bore testimony to 
his humanity. 

Sheriff Bartlett, was a member of the Convention that adopted the Con- 
stitution of the United States, and that which was called to amend the 
Constitution of Massachusetts in 1820. In 1797 he succeeded Judge 
Bradbury as Eepresentative of Essex North District, in the Congress of the 
United States, of which he was a member four years ; — he being a member 
of the last Congress holden at Philadelphia and of the first which met at 
Washington. He was member of Congress during the contest between 
Mr. Jefferson and Aaron Burr, and whilst a member, was the chamber 
companion of the lamented Chief Justice Parker, between whom, until the 
death of the latter, the warmest and most cordial friendship continued to 
exist. Speaking of Sheriff Bartlett, just before the commencement of the 
late trial, to which they both fell victims. Judge Parker says in a letter to 
a friend, "he is one of the last men whose feelings I would intentionally 



620 HISTORY OF HAVEEUILt. 

wound, having for more than thirty years known the purity and integrity' 
of his character, both public and private." 

These two friends devoted their last moments to duty and society ; and 
though Sheriif Bartlett, at the advaned age of 80, was afflicted with a 
malady which would have excused a young man of thirty from attending 
Court, still he was determined whilst he held his office to discharge its 
duties. Nineteen days before his death, he attended Court, when the 
sentence of death was pronounced on the unhappy Knapp. He returned 
to Haverhill the same day, when he arrived at his house, it took several 
men to remove him from his chaise. He immediately took to his bed and 
never left it. It was his last sickness as it was his first. He never having 
been severely indisposed before. A life of the greatest temperance secured 
health to a good old age, and in his last sickness he scarcely felt a pain. 

Mr. Bartlett was one of the Electoral Candidates on the federal ticket 
in 1804, and was elected an Elector in 1828. Mr. Bartlett was the oldest 
public officer living in Massachusetts, except the clerk of the County of 
Middlesex, and he has probably held the office of Sheriif longer than any 
other individual ever held it. The best commentary on his public life is^ 
that without a dissipated or extravagant habit, he leaves his family less 
than half the property he possessed when appointed Sherifi". 

Such was the public life of this amiable, honest, faithful and unostenta' 
tious public servant. But the brightest trait of his character cannot be 
known to the world. To see that, they must know the family he has 
reared, trained and stamped with his own similitude. Fifteen children, 
thirteen gi'own to middle age, and eleven who survive him, who never knew 
an angry passion or a selfish feeling. This is the brightest gem in the 
diadem. Seven daughters softening the dying bed of virtuous old age, is 
a scene which celibacy cannot witness without effect. Blessed was he ia 
life, and thrice blessed in its close." 

Bartlett, Hon. Isaac. The Bartlett families are said to have come into 
England with William the Conquerer in 1006; and one of them — Adam 
De Barrtlot — settled in Stapham, Sussex. However this may be, it is 
certain that the Bartletts who settled at Bart^ett's Cove, in Newbury, 
Massachusetts, came into this country from 1634 to 1637. John Bartlett 
came in 1634, from the County of Kent, England, He died in 1678. 
Kichard Bartlett, a shoemaker, supposed brother of the first John, came ia 
163-7, and died in 1647. His son, Samuel, married Eliza Titcomb, and 
died in 1732. His youngest daughter married the Eev.: Matthias Plant, 
who has left MSS relating to his own time. Thomas Bartlett, son of the 
above Samuel, married Sarah AVcbster, and died in 1744. His wife died 




HON. ISRAEL BARTLETT. 



I 




HON. SAMUEL BLODGET. 



JllSTORY OF HAVERHILL, 621 

in 1728. Their ctildren were Israel, Tabitha, Enoch, (who was the father 
of Hon. Bailey Bartlett, of Haverhill,) Dorithy, Nehemiah, James, Thomas, 
and Sarah. 

Israel Bartlett, son of the above Thomas, married Love Hall in 1738, 
and died in 1754. His wife died in 1806. Their children were Joseph 
Hall, Sarah, Thomas, Israel, Mary, and Josiah. 

Israel Bartlett, son of the above Israel, was born in Nottingham, N. H., 
May 8, 1748, and died in Ha\'erhill, April 21, 1 838. He married Tabitha, 
Walker, June 8, 1775. She died December 18, 1824. Their children 
Were Samuel, Enoch, Mary, Henry, James, John, Sarah, George, and 
Charles. Only one of these (John) are now living. After the death of 
his father, which occurred when Israel was but six years of age, the latter 
went to reside with his uncle, at Bartlett's Cove, where he remained until 
he went as an apprentice to the Goldsmith's trade, to a Mr. Mouiton, in 
Newburyport. When his term of apprenticeship was completed, he came 
to Haverhill, and established himself in the same business. 

Though his early education was limited, Mr. Bartlett made such good 
use of his odd hours, that he became well versed in ancient and modern 
history, and familiar with the standard literature of his day. He enjoyed, 
deservedly, the respect and attachment of all who knew him. In his 
earlier years, he was active in the service of his country ; he was present 
at the surrender of Burgoyne, and has left a brief account of that expedi- 
tion. In 1810 and 11, also from 1816 to 21, he served the Commonwealth 
as a member of the State Senate. He sustained various offices in the town, 
and always discharged his duties with great fidelity. Shortly before his 
death, at the advanced age of 90, he received a renewal of his appointment, 
as a justice of the Peace, 

For very many years he was an honored and consistent member of the 
Eirst Church in this town, and, at the ripe age of 90 years, he went down 
to his grave strong in the hope of a glorious immortality. 

Blodget, Samuel, better known to our elderly citizens as Judge Blodget, 
was a native of Woburn, Mass., and a man of superior ingenuity, intelli- 
gence, and enterprise. He was at the taking of Louisburg, in 1745, and 
came to Haverhill some time previous to 1748, in which year he married 
Hannah White, of "Haverhill District." In 1759, he established pot 
and pearl ash works in this town, which were among the first in the 
country, and kept them in successful operation for many years. Eemoving 
to New Hampshire, some time previous to the Revolution, he was appointed 
Judge of the Inferior Court, in the County of Hillsborough, which office 
he held for some years. Judge Blodget was possessed of great 



622 niSTORY OF haverhill. 

jnechanical ingenuity, and was the originator of several valuable inVen* 
tions. In 1783, he bought a ship which was stranded near Plymouth, 
and with a machine of his own invention raised the vessel, and recovered 
the whole cargo. The latter was mostly tea, which the Judge carefully 
dried, and sold, making quite a fortune by the operation. Encouraged by 
this success, he went to Europe, for the purpose of raising money from a 
rich Spanish ship, but was not permitted to make the attempt. He* then 
went to England, and sought permission to attempt the raising of the 
Royal George, one of the largest ships in the British Navy, but with no 
better success. He was looked upon as a Yankee enthusiast. Returning 
to the United States, he soon after established in this town a factory for 
the manufacture of linen duck. A part of the machinery was of his own 
invention, and his factory, which was one of the very first in the country, 
was one of the principal objects of attention in the town at the time of 
President Washington's visit. The enterprise proving unprofitable, it was 
finally abandoned. 

Judge Blodget was one of the first to advance the idea that it was the 
duty of the government to encourage and protect home manufactures, and 
in the hope that his influence might make a greater impression upon the 
public mind, he was, in 1791, chosen to represent the town in the General 
Court. 

In 1793, he began a canal at Amoskeag Falls — known as Blodget's 
Canal. Upon this, and in attempting to lock the falls he labored several 
years, and expended all his property — but without accomplishing his 
object. 

The Judge was a generation ahead of his time, which will account for 
nearly all his failures. He was possessed of a genius which would, under 
proper cultivation, and favorable circumstances, have immortalized his 
name. He intended to have lived to the age of 100 years, at least. Eigid 
temperance, activity, and sleeping with open doors and windows, were, 
in his opinion, the true elixer vitce. He therefore slept with the windows 
of his chamber open, in all weathers and at all seasons, and never allowed 
himself to wear either "great coat" or mittens. He enjoyed uninter- 
rupted vigor, cheerfulness and health, until his Both year, when his scheme 
like so many of his others, failed. Early in 1807, in travelling from 
Boston to Haverhill on a cold and stormy night, in an open sleigh, he was 
so thoroughly chilled, that on arriving home he was unable to speak, and 
was with great difficulty rescued from immediate death. • From this shock 
he never recovered, In the following August he died, of consumption. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 623 

Bradley, Isaac. " Died. — In this town, on the 15tli inst., Mr. Isaac 
Bradley, aged 83. It is remarkable that his grandfather assisted to build 
the first meeting house in this town ; his father the second ; and he the 
third in the same parish. His grandfather was killed by the Indians ; 
and his father, a captive among them, made his escape at 15 yrs old thro 
the trackless wood from Winnepiseogee Pond to Saco fort without any 
guide but sun and stars, or rather a kind and wonderful Providence. The 
subject of this obituary sustained a state of almost helpless infirmity for 
30 years with patience and unrepining submission. Near his death he 
called around him his children and grandchildren, and like a good old 
patriarck, gave them his affectionate blessing and pious counsels. He 
died full of the hopes of that religion of which he had been a professor 
thro alonglife."— O&A-err^r, (Haverhill) Jan. 22, 1802. 

Brickett, Gen. James, was a native of Haverhill. He practiced physic 
successfully for many years, in this town, both before and after the war of 
the Revolution. He was Surgeon's mate in Col. Frye's Eegiment, at Fort 
Frederick, from March 30, 1759, to July 30, 1760, and perhaps longer. 
On the breaking out of the dispute between the Colonies and Great Britain, 
he ranked himself with the Whigs, and became a firm and devoted 
patriot. He was one of the principal movers in the organization of the 
Haverhill Artillery Company, in 1774, and was its first Captain. He was 
a- member of the first "Committee of Inspection" in the town, (1775.) 
On the breaking out of hostilities, in April 1775, he hastened to Cambridge, 
where he was commissioned (May 20) as Lieutenant Colonel in Col. Frye's 
Essex Regiment. Owing to the illness of the latter, Lieut. Col. Brickett 
commanded the regiment at the occupation of Bunker Hill, on the night of 
June 16, 1775, and until wounded on the day following. =•■'= He was subse- 
quently (July 5, 1776,) appointed by the Governor and Council of Massa- 
chusetts, Colonel of a Battalion to be raised in the Counties of Essex, &c. 
A few days later, (July 11,) he was appointed Brigadier-General of the 
forces to be sent to Canada, and commanded the Massachusetts Levies for 
the Northern Army, arriving at Ticonderoga, August 12th, 1776. He was 
President of a Court Martial held at Albany, December 2, 177G, for the 
trial of Arnold, on complaint of Col. Hazen, (5 Am. Arch, iii, 1012). In 
September, 1777, he went as a volunteer with the company which marched 
from Haverhill to the Plains of Stillwater, under the command of Capt. 
Nathaniel Marsh, and arrived just after the cessation of arms had been 
declared. He was appointed (October, 1777,) one of Gen. Gate's Briga- 
diers, and commanded an escort of about five hundred militia, detached to 

» See page 392. 



6'24^ HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

guard a division of Gen. Burgoyne's troops from Saratoga to Boston.""' In 
this expedition he incurred considerable expense, and when he laid his 
account before Congress, that body refused to remunerate him, because he 
was not then an officer of the army. 

He was chairman of the committee of the town of Haverhill in 1786, 
and drafted the reply to the town of Boston, addressed to all the towns in 
the State concerning the common interests of the country, which was char- 
acterized by the most ardent patriotism, and signal ability.f 

He was a member of the Constitutional Convention at Boston, in June, 
1780 ; was chairman of several important committees in the town during 
the great struggle for Independence, and an active and influential member 
of most of them ; was moderator of the town meetings from 1780 to 1784, 
inclusive; and was chairman of the board of selectmen from 1779 to 
1782, inclusive, during which time the board were also, ex-ojfficio, assessors 
and overseers of the poor. Gen. Brickett, or, as he was usually called by 
his townsmen, " Dr. Brickett," was highly respected by all who knew him, 
as a kind and skilful physician, an obliging neighbor, a genial compan- 
ion, a liberal and enterprising citizen, and a man of undoubted honor, 
patriotism, and integrity. He died December 9, 1818, aged 81 years. 

Brown, Henry Young, was born in Haverhill October, 1730, and died 
at Fryeburg, Me., October 15, 1796. He married Elizabeth Lovejoy, of 
Andover. Their only child who survived infancy was Elizabeth, (born 
1757, died 1790,) who married Col. Joshua B. Osgood, senior, also a 
native of Haverhill, (bom 1753, died 1791). 

Captain Brown was a prominent and influential man. A Captain in 
the French War, he had granted him, by the General Court of Massachu- 
setts, a township of land adjoiniug Fryeburg, Maine, to which he gave 
his name — Brownfield. The limits of the town originally included a 
part of Fryeburg Village, and the Brown mansion was at the head of the 
Main Street, where his descendants still reside. He was one of the found- 
ers of Fryeburg Academy ; was a man of great energy, and public spirit, 
and has left a memory that will not soon die in that region of country. 

Chase, Aquila, mariner, said to have been from Cornwall, England, 
was in Hampton in 1640; he then married Anne, dauglfter of John 
Wheeler, formerly of Salisbury, England. He had a grant of four acres 
of laud at Hampton. His dwelling was near the landing. In 1646, he 
removed to Newbury, that town having " Granted to Acj[uilla Chase, anno 
1646, four acres of land at the new towne for a house lott where it is to 

« See page 402. t See pnge 438. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 625 

foe had, also on condition that he do go to sea, and do service in the towne 
with a boat for foure years."--^ There is a tradition in the family that he 
was the first person who brought a vessel over Newbury bar. The chil- 
dren of Aquila were Sarah, Anne, Priscilla, Mary, Aquila, Thomas, John, 
Elizabeth, Euth, Daniel, and IMoses. Aquila, sen,, died December 27, 
1670, aged 52. His will is dated December 19, 1G70. His estate was 
inventoried at £336.14.3. 

John, son of Aquila, born November 2, 1655 ; the first Chase who set- 
tled in upper Newbury ; married, first, Elizabeth Bingley ; and, second, 

Lydia . His children were William, Phillip, Charles, Jacob, 

Abraham, John, Phebe, Mary, Lydia, Elizabeth, and David. 

David, born October 20, 1710, the eleventh, and probably youngest 
child of John (by his wife Lydia) married Sarah Emery, November 24, 
1729, and had several children : — David, born December 1, 1730 ; Joshua, 
born October 21, 1733; Anthony, born December 6, 1735; Tristram, 
born January 23, 1737 ; Simeon, and three daughters. 

Anthony, son of the- above David, and who was a soldier in the expedi- 
tion to Cape Breton, married Abigail Woodman, of Newbury, June 29, 
1758, and settled where Deacon Charles Coflan now lives, in East Hav- 
erhill. He pui'chased the water privilege and about two acres of land at 
that place, about a year previous to his marriage, and at once erected a 
clothing-mill and a dwelling-house. He subsequently erected a saw and 
grist-mill, and became in time a large land owner. His children were 
Eobert, 1759; Sarah, 1761; Eobert, 1763; Woodman, 1765; Stephen, 
1767; Joseph, 1769; Abigail, 1771; John, 1773. He married, second. 
May 1, 1782, widow Sarah Swett, of Haverhill, by whom he had Nancy, 
1784; and David, 1787. 

Joseph, son of Anthony and Abigail, born , 1769, married Debo- 
rah Williams, of Amesbury, born , 1763, and settled on the farm now 

owned and occupied by John B. Nichols, Esq., in East Haverhill. Their 

children were Nancy, born , 1793; Tappan, born May 22, 1795, 

died March 6, 1796; Mary, born August 14, 1797; Tappan, born Janu- 
ary 16, 1800; William, born March 10, 1802, died October 14, 1831. 
Joseph, the husband, died February 17, 1845; Deborah, the wife, died 
May 14, 1847. 

Tappan, son of Joseph and Deborah, was born January 16, ISOO, and 
married, September 14, 1825, Hannah, daughter of Col. John Johnson, of 
Haverhill, born July 8, 1S03, and settled on the farm above mentioned. 
Their children were George Wingate, born June 19, 1826 ; Abigail Johnson, 

«» Kewbury Town Records. 

79 



626 HISTORY OV HAVERHIIL. 

born April 23, 1828, died, unmarried, July 1, 1847 ; Matilda, Iborn Jan- 
uary 17, 1830, died May 7, 1834 ; Sarah, born February 14, 1832, died, 
unmarried, August 4, 1848 ; Matilda, born February 7, 1834, died, un- 
married, August 27, 1852; William, born December 27, 1835; Charles 
Tappan, born August 28, 1837, married, October 8, 1857, Charlotte Eliz- 
abeth Burr, born May 22, 1837, children, Emeline Frances, born August 
4, 1858, Frederick Henry, born September 12, 1860; Emeline, bora 
July 23, 1841, died August 10, 1841. Deacon Tappan Chase died April 
27, 1857. 

George Wingate, son of Tappan and Hannah, married, December 29, 
1849, Frances A,, born June 9, 18^)0, daughter of Christopher Dyer, 
Esq., of New Sharon, Me. Children, Charles Dj^er, born November 16, 
1850 ; Abigail Matilda, born June 19, 1853 ; Sarah Ann, born May 21, 
1861. 

Cogswell, Nathaniel, Esq., son of Hon. Thomas Cogswell, was born 
ii^ Haverhill, January 19, 1773, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1794, 
studied with Ebenezer Smith, Esq., of Durham, N. H., and commenced 
the practice of the law in 1805. He soon after took the tour of Europe, 
returned, and, in 1808, established himself in Newburyport. He was 
appointed Aid to Major-General Brickett, afterward went to Mexico, 
where he became a General in the Spanish Patriot army, and died at the 
Eapids of Eed Kiver, in August, 1813, aged 40. 

Hon. Thomas Cogswell, son of Nathaniel and Judith (Badger) Cogs- 
well, was born in Haverhill, August 4, 1746. He was one of a family of 
nineteen children. At the age of 24, (February 26, 1770,) he was mar- 
ried to Ruth Badger, daughter of General Joseph Badger, of Gilmanton, 
N. H. He lived in -Haverhill, where he had three children, until the com- 
mencement of the Eevolutionary War, when he entered the army, and his 
wife and children went to reside with her father, in Gilmanton. He was out 
during nearly the whole war. He entered the service as Captain, and rose 
to the rank of Colonel. At the close of the war, he returned to Gilmanton, 
settled near his wife's father's, and was soon a prominent man in the town. 
He served as moderator, and frequently as selectman, and was one of the 
original trustees of the Academy. In 1784, he was appointed Chief Jus- 
tice of the Court of Common Pleas, which office he held till his decease, 
in 1810. He had eleven children, one of whom, Nathaniel, was the second 
graduate at Dartmouth ' from Gilmanton. Two other sons died in the 
army, during the war of 1812 : — Francis, who graduated at Dartmouth 
College, in 1811, and was a Lieutenant in the army, died at Plattsburgh, 
N. Y., December 8, 1812; and Thomas was killed at Chatteaugay, N. Y., 



MISTORr 0? HAVERHILT-. 627 

Octolser 26, 1813. Judge Cogswell was twice a candidate for Eepresenta- 
tive to Congress. In September, ISOi, he donated $75 to the First 
Congi'egational Church in his town, for the purpose of purchasing a " sac- 
ramental service " for its use. After his decease, the church erected a 
large pair of grave-stones to his memorj. He died September 3, 1810, 
aged 64 years. His widow died October 16, 1839, aged 88 y^ars. 

Corliss, George, was born in England about the year 1617, and came 
to this country 1639. He married Joanna Davis, October 26, 1645 ; she 
came from that part of England called Wales ; they had one son and seven 
daughters. Corliss died October 19, 1686. He left an extensive farm in 
the west part of Haverhill, which he divided, by will, among his children, 
giving his home farm to his son John. To his daughter, Mrs. Mary Xeflr, 
he gave the farm one mile east of his home farm, being the farm where 
William Swasey now lives. Mrs. Ifeff was taken by the Indians with 
Mrs. Duston, and remained with her through the whole captivity. 

John, son of the above George, was born March 4, 1647, and married 
Mary Milford, December 17, 1684 ; they had four sons and two daughters. 
He lived and died on the same farm and over the same cellar where his 
father had lived and died. He died February 17, 1698, leaving the farm 
to his^ldest son, John. 

John, grandson of George, was born March 14, 1686, married Euth 
Haynes, of Haverhill, about 1711. They had thirteen children. He was' 
a man of large stature, more than six feet in height and well proportioned. 
He had a commanding voice, spoke loud and distinctly, and was often well 
understood at the distance of more than a mile. He died November, 
1766. At his death, his son Joseph came into possession of the farm — - 
having previously received a deed of it from his father, who reserved a 
privilege in it for himself and wife. 

Joseph, son of the last named John, was born in 1724. He married 
Mary Emerson, February 19, 1746, and had seven children. He died 
November 3, 1762, leaving his farm to his sons, Joseph and Ephraim. 

Ephraim, son of Joseph, was born August 13, 1751. At the age of 
twenty-one, he came into possession of that half of the farm which his 
father left him, by will, and soon after, he purchased of his brother Joseph 
the remainder of the farm. At the age of twenty-five, he married Lydia 
Ayer, of Haverhill. Twelve days after his marriage, he joined a com- 
pany of militia, and served three months as a private soldier, travelling 
more than nine hundred miles that winter. He had three sons and two 
daughters, and died OctobeF. 25, 1824. 



628 HISTORY OF nAVERHILt. 

Ephraim, son of Ephraim, was born March 13, 1782, married J'el)ra-' 
ary 21, 182G, had one son and two daughters, and died July 5,' 18r)8^ 
leaving his homo farm to his son, Cliarles, (of the seventh generation) 
who now lives on the farm inherited from his father, and the same that 
was first owned by George Corlisg, in IGIO. 

Duncan, George, son of George, (who lived an(i died in Ireland) came 
to this country with the early settlers of Londonderry, N. H., accompanied 
with his second wife, Margaret Cross, and his seven children. They were 
John, the eldest by a former marriage; and George, "William, Eobert, 
Abraham, Esther, and James, by the second marriage. 

James, son of the above George, married Elizabeth Bell, third daughter 
of John and Elizabeth Bell, and was a merchant in Haverhill, Mass. He 

died in 1818, aged 92 years. His wife died in , aged about 47 

years. Their chiklren were, John, who died unmarried; Samuel, of 
Grantham, N. H.,who married a Miss Emerson, and had several children; 
Eobert, who was a Representative of Grantham, married a Miss Emerson, 
had a son, Samuel B., and died in 1S07 ; Abraham ; \Yilliam, who lived 
in Concord, N. H., married a Miss Harris, had a son James, and three 
daughters, and died about 17^5, (his widow removed to Ohio with her son 
James, and died in 1835) ; James, who married Rebecca "White, of Hav- 
erhill, and died January 5, 1822, leaving two sons, Col. Samuel W., who 
died October 21, 1824-, aged 34, and Hon, James H., who married Mary, 
daughter of Benjamin AVillis, of Boston ; Elizabeth, who married John 
Thaxter, Esq., of Haverhill, and afterward Joshua Carter, of Boston ; 
Margaret, who married Thomas Baldwin, D.D,, of Boston ; Mary ; and 
three others. 

Ho7i. James H. Duncan, was born in Haverhill, Mass., December 5, 
1793. His father, James Duncan, Esq., was a prominent merchant, and 
a descendant of the colony of Scotch-Irish who settled Londonderry, N. H^ 
His mother, Rebeccah AVhite, was a descendant of William White, one of 
the first settlers of Haverhill. The subject of this sketch early mani- 
fested a love for books, and having passed the usual course of preparation 
at Phillips' Exeter Academy, entered Harvard University, in 1808, at the 
early age of fourteen. Notwithstanding his youth, he maintained a high 
rank in scholarship, and graduated in 1812, with an honorable part. 
Having pursued the study of the Law in the offices of Hon. John Varnunj, 
at Haverhill, and I-cverett Saltonstall, Esq., at Salem, he was admitted to 
the Essex Bar in 1815, and immediately entered upon the practice of his 
profession, in Haverhill, and continued in it with fidelity and success 





-^^-t^^l^^ 



<^i;^72^j=/ 






W^ 



'^<iyn.<::^y>'i. 



HISTOKY OF HAVERHIIL. 629 

until he took Lis seat in Congress, in 1849, when lie resigned the active 
duties of the profession. 

A short time previous to his admission to the Bar, he was elected En- 
sign in the Haverhill Light Infantry Company, of which he was a member, 
and, passing through the various grades of militia service, he rose to the 
rank of Colonel, which office he held several years, and until he resigned 
his commission. Being extensively engaged in farming, in which he has 
always taken a lively interest, he was early elected a Trustee of the Essex 
Agricultural Society, of which he was also President from 1836 to 1839. 
On the formation of the National Eepublican party, in 1827, he was, by 
the united votes of the Federal and Democratic parties, elected to the 
House of Kepresentatives, and in the following year to the Senate, of 
which he continued a member three successive years, and until he declined 
a re-election, In 1837, and 1838, he was again elected to the House, and 
in the two following years to the Council of Massachusetts. On the adop- 
tion of the district system, in 1857, he was again elected to the House of 
Eepresentatives, where he at all times held an honorable and influential 
position. 

On the passage of a State Insolvent Law, in 1838, he was appointed 
one of the Commissioners in Insolvency ; and on the passage of the United 
States Bankrupt Law, in 1841, he was appointed Commissioner in Bank- 
ruptcy, which office he held until the law was repealed. 

In 1839, he was elected as delegate to the National Eepublican Conven- 
tion at Harrisburg, which nominated General Harrison for President. In 
1848, he was elected to represent his disti-ict, — then the largest manu- 
facturing district in the LTnited States — in Congress, and was re-elected 
for a second term, in 1850. 

Having always manifested a lively interest in all literary and benevolent 
institutions, his education and character have marked him as a prominent 
member of many of them, particularly those of the Baptist denomination, 
of which he is a member. Since 1835 he has filled the office of Eellow of 
Brown LTniversity. 

Mr. Duncan is one of our largest, and most liberal, as well as enterpris- 
ing real estate owners, and has done much toward promoting the general 
business prosperity of the town. He has for many years resided upon the 
beautiful estate, corner of Main and Sumner Streets, originally owned by 
Moses B. Moody, Esq. The elegant mansion was designed by the celebrated 
architect, Haviland, and we believe there is but one other of the same 
style of architecture in the United States. 



630 HISTORY OF UAVERUILL. 

Eames, Theodore, was a native of Haverhill, and a graduate of Yale 
College. He studied law in the office of Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, at 
Salem, and for several years successfully practised in that city. He after- 
ward, and for a number of years, was Principal in the Salem Grammar 
School. From Salem he removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., to take charge of a 
school in that city ; and was subsequently appointed Police Judge, which 
office he held at the time of his death, in 1847. He was a man of strict 
integrity, great energy, and universally resj^eeted. 

Eaton, Peter, .D.D., was a native of Haverhill; one of the early pupils 
at Phillips' Academy, at Andover, and a graduate of Harvard College of 
the class of 1787. After completing his professional studies at Haverhill, 
he was settled as pastor of the church in Boxford, in 1789, where he con- 
tinued to labor until his death, April 14, 1848, at the age of 83 years, 
and in the 58th year of his ministry. His erect and manly bearing ; his 
ardent piety ; his frank and cordial greeting ; his generous hospitality, 
and open-handed charity, will not soon be forgotton by the many who 
knew him and loved him. 

Emerson, Capt., Nehemiah, was a descendant of Michael Emerson, 
who settled in Haverhill in 1656, married Hannah Webster, and whose 
eldest daughter, Hannah, married Thomas Duston, of heroic memory. 

Mr. Emerson was one of those who " marched on ye alarm April 19, 
1775." When the alarm reached Haverhill, he was at work on the roof 
of Deacon Dodge's house, corner of Main and Vestry Streets. He at 
once hurried home, changed his clothes, joined the company of Lieutenant 
Samuel Clements, and made all haste to the scene of action. Erom a 
private he gradually rose to the rank of Captain. He served through the 
whole of the war, visiting his home but once during the whole period.'-' 
He was at Bunker Hill ; at Valley Forge, during that memorable win- 
ter ; at Burgoyne's surrender ; and was one of the guards at the execution 
of Andre. His persevering patriotism, courage, and integrity, secured 
him the friendship and esteem of Washington, Lafayette, Kosciusko, and 
Steuben, the memory of whom was dearly cherished by him to the end of 
life. Several years after the war, as Mr. Willis of this town was walking 
through the grounds at Mt. Vernon, he met President Washington, who 
engaged in conversation with him. On learning that he was from Haver- 
hill, Washington enquired particularly about Captain Emerson, who, he 
observed, was "a brave officer, a good disciplinarian, and never lost his 
temper .^^ 

° Four of his brothers, — Jonathan, Samuel, Nathan, and Moses, — were also in the army of the 
Revolution, 



\ 




'nil 



■•''(rs) 



^^/£^^^7'v^:^M."^^r^^^^^^^^^-^ 



HISTORY OF HAVEKHILL. 631 

Mr. Emerson settled on the old homestead, so long in possession of his 
family, -where he continued to reside until his death. He was a kind- 
hearted, gentlemanly man, not ambitious of Avorldly distinction, but 
honest and upright ; and his memory is cherished with respect. He died 
December 11, 1S32, aged 84 years. 

How, Datid, son of Deacon James How, was born in Methuen, Mass., 
in 1758. He was the third of a family of ten children, — six sons and 
four daughters. All the sons served in the Eevolution. Three of them 
were at the battle of Bunker Hill. 

David was a currier by trade, having learned the business while living 
with his grandfather (Farnham) at Andover, Mass. He was one of those 
who marched to Cambridge on the Lexington Alarm, and was also of the 
number that occupied Bunker Hill on the night of the 16th of June. On 
the day of the battle, he was stationed in the " fort," and thus took an 
active part in the struggle. Just at the close of the action, having dis- 
charged his gun, the soldier who stood at his side was shot down, when 
How seized his comrade's gun, " let fly" at the British, and under cover 
of the smoke, retreated from the fort. Air. How always gave a large part of 
the credit due for the glorious work of that day, to Col. Prescott. Many 
years after that eventful day, and bu£ a few months before his death, a 
person read to Mr. How an article from a Boston paper, relating to the 
battle, and asked his opinion of Gen. Putnam. He replied that he " never 
heard anything against him in the army." He was then asked what he 
thought of Col. Prescott. He answered, "had it not been for Col. Pres- 
cott there would have been no fight." ^ Pretending that he was not quite 
understood, the person repeated the question, but the answer was the 
same. Not yet satisfied, tne question was again pressed, when How arose 
from his chair, stood erect, and, raising his hand, exclaimed, with all the 
power of voice he could summon — (for some years his voice had been 
scarcely audible.) — "I tell ye that, had it not been for Col. Prescott, 
there would have been no fight. He was all night, and all the morning 
talking to the soldiers and moving about his short sword among them, in 
such a way, that they all felt like fight." 

On the 27th of the December following the above battle. How, then 
scarcely seventeen years of age, enlisted for the war. Though young, his 
spirit had already caught the true patriotic fire, and through all the long 
and arduous struggle, he never for a moment doubted the final result. 
He was at Haarlem Heights, and at Trenton. At the latter battle, he took 
from a Hessian soldier his gun and knapsack, both of which are still in 
the possession of his grandson, David W. Howe, of Brooklyn, N. Y. 



632 HISTOBY OF HAVERHILL. 

After the close of the war, Mr. How went to New London, N. H., where 
he bought and partly cleared a lot of land, intending to settle upon it as 
a farmer. But his wife was so unwilling to remove thus far into the 
wilderness,'-' that he gave up the idea of becoming a farmer, and finally 
removed to Haverhill, where he commenced, in a very humble way, in the 
basement of a small shop on Water Street, the business of currying. His 
peculiar suavity of manner, strict integrity, industry, and Yankee pro- 
pensity to "trade and dicker," soon secured him a firm hold upon the 
business of the place. He gradually added a variety of other articles of 
trade to his little stock of leather, until in time he became the largest 
trader in the town. 

From his little shop on Water Street, he removed to a store near the 
west end of the Bannister Block, on Merrimack Street. Subsequently he 
built the block now occupied by John Davis, and Willett & Co., (next but 
one south of Mechanics' Court, west side of Main Street,) to which he 
removed. He occupied nearly the entire building, which was kept liter- 
ally filled with goods. Still later, he was instrumental in the erection of 
the pile of brick buildings extending from the bridge to the Essex Block, 
on Merrimack Street, and had charge of their erection. The two west 
stores were owned by him; the next two by James Duncan, Esq., and the 
rest of the block, to the toll-keeper's house on the bridge, was owned by 
Wm. B. Bannister, Esq., of Newbury port. 

Mr. How was among the first to engage in the wholesale manufacture of 
shoes in the town, and was the first one who manufactured them in large 
quantities, for a distant market. During the war of 1812, he sent a 
large lot of them to Philadelphia, by his own team, realizing a handsome 
profit on them. He was the first to keep on hand large quantities of 
leather, to exchange for shoes. Such was his interest in the business, and 
his energy and enterprise in carying it on, that he may almost be called 
the founder of the shoe business in this town. 

An idea of the large amount of business done by him may be judged 
from the fact that during the war of 1812, he was offered ^100,000, for 
the stock of goods he then had in his store, but refused. 

With his early love of farming, Mr. How invested largely in farming 
lands, and was at one time probably one of the largest laud owners in the 
County, if not in the State. Liberal minded and enterprising,f he ira- 

* His first wife wiis a Whittier, of Mefhuen ; his second, a daughter of Isaac Refldington, Esq., of Hav- 
erhill; and h'.a third, Sarah, daughter of Samuel White, Esq., also of this town. 

t Mr. How was the first one to introduce and advocate the use of plaster on lands. Td prove its 
efficacy, he caused it to bo sown in a peculiar manner, on the southerly side of Gulden Hill, and for 
months afterward, the mammoth " D U " etched in living green, proved to the passers-by its claims to 
confidence. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 633 

parted a like spirit to his fellow-townsmen, the surpassing influence of 
which cannot be estimated. Thousands upon thousands of apple and pear 
trees, now in the full vigor of maturity, and yielding their ample crops of 
delicious fruit, ' are visible and tangible monuments of his enterprise and 
practical forethought. Through all the sixty years of his residence in 
this town, Mr. How commanded the unqualified respect and confidence of 
all who knew him. Mr. How was never an office-seeker, and therefore the 
fact that he represented his town in the General Court for twelve years, 
is ample proof of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow-citizens. 
During the early years of the Merrimack Bank, he was its President. He 
was a large owner in the Haverhill Bridge, and, indeed, was more or less 
connected with every worthy local enterprise of the day. 

His farming operations were never profitable, from the fact that he 
could not personally oversee such extensive operations, and at the same 
time carry on a large commercial business. 

For many years, he was a sort of " savings bank " for those of his towns- 
men, and others, who happened to have money that they did not wish to 
make use of for the time." Such were always glad to have him invest 
their money for them, and his simple promissory note was considered 
equally as secure as the best bank stocks of the present day. 

The knowledge on the part of those to whom he was thus indebted, that 
bis farms were rather a pecuniary damage to him, and that his liabilities 
were large, ultimately proved his misfortune. A rumor (unfounded, but 
equally fatal,) that he had recently become embarrassed by heavy losses, 
led to a sudden " run " upon him by these persons. Unable to meet the 
sudden torrent of demands, and refusing security, (never having done 
such a thing in his life ! ) suits were piled upon suits, and costs upon 
costs, until a large property was nearly consumed. It is a remarkable 
fact, that, at the time the panic occurred, not a dollar of the large 
property then in his hands was mortgaged ! 

Mr. How died February 9, 1842, in the 85th year of his age. Many 
yet living have ample cause to remember him with love and respect. To 
the poor, he was no ordinary friend. His hand was always open to their 
wants, and they never failed to find relief in his charities. His enter- 
prise furnished employment for many an humble individual, whose wages 
were regulated by no miserly standard. He was a " father of the town," 
in the highest sense of the title, and will long be remembered for his 
sterling worth. 

° The first Bank in the town, was incorpor«ted in 1814. The Savings Bank was not established until 
1829. 

80 



634 HISTORY OF HAVERHILI.. 

Isaac Redington How, son of David How, Esq., was bom in Haverhill, 
March 13, 1791. He graduated at Harvard ISIO, and after pursuing his 
legal studies with Hon. "William Prescott, of Boston, commenced his pro- 
fession at Haverhill, and 'acquired in it a highly respectable rank. But 
his taste and inclination led him, mainly, to literary pursuits, and he 
gradually avoided his practice in the law. He was a constant and severe 
thinker, and wrote much for the press. He was especially interested in 
whatever related to the mechanics and the arts, and in these matters his 
mind was far in advance of his age. He was never selfish or partizan in 
his character, or committed his conduct or opinions to the dictation of 
others, but aimed at truth, and the general good. He was a useful and 
respected citizen, and a high-minded, intellectual, christian gentleman. 
He died at Haverhill, January 15, 1860. 

Johnson, John, the first of this name who settled in Haverhill, was a 
son of William, a brick-maker of Charlestown, Mass. He came to Hav- 
erhill in the fall of 1657, with his wife, Elizabeth, who was a daughter of 
Elias Maverick, of Charlestovi^n, and one child, John, who was born 
August 3, 1657. He settled near the corner of what is now Main and 
Water Streets, and a part of his original house-lot is still in the posses- 
sion of his lineal descendants."' As a blacksmith's shop in those days was 
one of the most public places in a town, it is quite probable that his set- 
tlement in that place was a prominent reason why the principal business 
of the town became located in that vicinity. Besides the house-lot and 
other town accommodations given him, February 9, 1659, to encourage 
him to settle here, he bought parcels of land, at various times, until he 
became quite a large land-holder, but at the time of his death he bad sold 
aud given away to his children, all but about seventy-five to one hundred 
acres — some of which was situated in th6 town of Charlestown. 

Mr. Johnson was an active and useful citizen, and became the founder 
of one of the largest and most respectable families in this town. He 
represented the town in the General Court, in 1691 ; was one of the dea- 
cons in the church ; and an officer in the militia. At the terrible slaugh- 
ter of the inhabitants by the Indians, August 29, 1708, he was killed at 
his own house,' and buried in the old burying-ground, with the other offi- 
cers in the militia, near Mr. Eolfc, their pastor. 

Mr. Johnson was married three times, — first, to Elizabeth Maverick, 
October 15, 1656, who died March 22, 1673—1 ; second, to widow Sarah 
Gillo, of Lynn, March 3, 1674-5, who died July 24, 1676^at the time 

O Sec pajfc 83. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 635 

iier tvrin-daughters were born ; and third, September 8, 1680, Katherine, 
widow of Jolm Maverick, and formerly Katherinc Skipper, of Boston> 
who was killed by the Indians- at the same time as was her husband. 

He had at least ten children: John, born Augusts, 1657; Elizabethj 
born November 18, 1659; Euhama, born September 10,1661; William 
born November 14, 1663; Sarah, born August 2, 1665; Euth ; Ruth, 
born February 14, 1669; Timothy, born June 31, 1672; and Mary and 
liebecca, twins, born July 17, 1676. 

Timothy, son of John, married Ann Maverick, and died September 21 ^ 
1696, leaving one child, Elizabeth, who married Dr. Joshua Bailey, by 
whom she had Ann, Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, Anna, (who was the 
first wife of Enoch Bartlett, by whom she had one child, Bailey, who was 
the Hon. Bailey Bartlett, =••) and Abigail, (who married Isaac Osgood, 
from Andovcr), 

yb/i«, . (a blacksmith, and who was also called Li-eut. Johnson,) son of 
John and Elizabeth (Maverick) Johnson, was also married three times, — 
first, to Mary Mousall, September 8, 16S0; second, to Lydia Clement, 
Pebruary 19, 1G89 ; and third, to Mary, daughter of a Joseph Johnson, 
May 17, 1697. He died March 9, 1723-^4. His children were — John, 
1683 ; Thomas, 1685, (ancestor of most of the Johnsons of Haverhill 
and Bradford) ; William; Lydia, 1689 ; Nathaniel, 1691 ; Mary, 1693-4; 
Sarah, 1695-6; Elizabeth, 1699; Timothy, 1701; Rebecca; Maverick; 
Hannah, 1707 ; William, (who succeeded his father as blacksmith) 1709 , 
Abigail, 1711-12; Samuel, 1715-16. 

Thomas, son of John, Jr., and Mary (Mousall) Johnson, settled on the 
northeast side of Kenoza Lake, where Daniel Hoyt now lives, which farm 
was given him by his father. He married, first, Euth Bradley, November 
13, 1706, who was killed by the Indians the same day ;f and second, 
Rachel Ordway, who died 1764. Mr. Johnson died July 22, 1754. His 
ten children were — Lydia, 1707; Euth, 1710; Daniel, 1711-12, who 
with his brother, Maverick, had the homestead; Maverick, 1714, one of 

<^ Hon. Bailey Bartlett married Peggy, daughter of John White, Jr., of this town, and had Anna B., 
born 1787, who is the widow of the Hon. Wm. Jarvis, of WeathcrsCeld, Vt. ; Elizabeth, 1780, married 
Hon. Joseph E. Spr.igue, of Salcm ; Margaret, 1790, married Dr. Rufus Longley, of Haverhill; Harriet 
died unmarried ; Sarah L., 1793, married Hon. J. E. Sprague above (for second wife) ; Bailey, 179-1:, now 
resides in Lawrence; Mass.; Katherinc, 179j; Edwin, 1790; Mary; Abigail 0., married Rev. Moses 
Kimball, of Weatherslield, Vt. ; Charles L., 1802; Mary A., 1804, married John Tenney, Esq., of 
Methuen, Mass. ; JFred. A. ; i'rancis, 180G ; and Louisa, 1809, who married Oliver Carleton, of Salem. 

t Mr. Johnson's grandfather was sluin in 1708, but the savages spared their infant, — which was prob- 
ably the same child that Mirick says was in the anns of its step-great-grandmother, when she was 
liilled. 



636 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

whose children was the late Col. John Johnson, of the Eocks' Village, who 
died 1861; Nathan, 1718; Peter, 1721, who settled near his father; 
Seth, 1723, who settled on the farm next south-west where Joshua Lake 
now lives ; Kachel, 1726; Anna, 1728, and Moses, 1730. 

Captain Daniel, son of Thomas and Rachel (Ordway) Johnson, mar-^ 
ried, first, April 3, 1734, Susanna Bixby, of Boxford, and second, Widow 
Susanna Russell, in 1779. He died in March, 1794. His children were 
— Deacon Elias, 1735, who built the house (1772) and settled on the 
place now owned by John B, Nichols, Esc[., and where his son Daniel 
afterward lived and died; Captain Timothy, 1737, an officer in the Revo- 
lution ; Lydia, 1739; Susanna, 1743; Mary, 1749; and Rachel 1753. 

Seth, son of Thomas and Rachel (Ordway) Johnson, married Hannah 
Greeley, March 25, 1756, and had seven children, viz. : Thomas, 1757 ; 
Thomas, 1760, who settled near Cottle's Ferry, where he erected and 
owned a grist-mill; Nathaniel 1762; Seth, 1764, settled in Campton, 
N. H. ; Nathaniel, 1767, who settled near Cottle's Ferry, and one of whose 
sons, Joseph, married Mary, daughter of Joseph and Deborah (Williams) 
Chase, of East Haverhill; John, 1772, a blacksmith, who finally settled 
in the village, and died September 3, 1843 ; and Benjamin, 1774. 

Deacon Thomas, son of Seth and Hannah (Greeley) Johnson, who set- 
tled near Cottle's Ferry, married Lydia .Noyes, of West Newbury, and 
died January 13, 1845. His children were Hannah, 1786 ; Frederick, 
October 26, 1789, who settled in West Bradford, and married Nancy, 
daughter of Joseph Chase-*; Nathaniel, 1794, a farmer in East Haverhill; 
Leonard, July 27, 1796, a shoe manufacturer, resides in Bradford; Fran- 
cis, 1798, unmarried; Louisa, 1804; Lucinda, 1806; and Mary Brick- 
ett, 1812. 

John, son of Seth and Hannah (Greeley) Johnson, married Sarah, 
daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Wingatc) Bradley, of Haverhill, August 
27, 1795. She died September 26, 1831, aged 62 years and 11 months. 
Their children were, — Andrew, born October 7, 1796, married Ruth, 
daughter of Wm. Edwards, of Haverhill ; Samuel, born January 5, 1798, 

* The children of Frederick nnd Nancy Johnson, were, Leonard, born 1815, died nnmarried at Honoluin , 
Sandwich Islands, in 18o2; Wm. Fred, horn 1816, resides in Mnscatine, Iowa, married, first, Sarah Ann 
Vanderbuilt, and second, Sarah Troctor ; George, born October 14, 1818, an extensive shof-mannfacturer 
and dealer in leather in lioston, resides in Bra ford, who niaiTicd KnimaEldredgc Ho()g»kiiis, of Ncwburj- 
porj, and has Geo. Hazcn, born December n, 1848, Herbert Morris, born December 8, 18")0, Emma Ann, 
died young, Frederick Wm., born October 24, 18.J3, Helen Lonise, born July 7, I8J5, Alice Rebecca, born 
July 12, 1856, and Allan Macfarlaii, born January 13, 1800, died Augnst 22, 186(1; Ann Maria, born 
October 13, 1S2U, married John Girdler of Manchester, Mass., both deceased; Haze.n TK, born 1812, 
died 1839 ; James T., died young; Emeline L., born 1826, died 1841 ; Ahhy Hazeliine, born March 25. 
1828, is Preceptress of Bradford Academy ; and Charles Everett, born November 1, 1830. 




Jf/./luffird-' liUz-Po'tpr^ 







fllSTORt OF HAVERHILL. 



637 



married, first, Sally, daughter of David Gleason, second, Abigail S. George* 
and third, Mary, widow of Samuel Eussell, and died November, 1845; 
Sally, born Februarys, 1801, died unmarried in 1822; Hannah, born 
July 8, 1803, married Tappan, son of Joseph and Deborah Chase; "Wash* 
ington, born August 22. 1805, a blacksmith,-' married Harriet, •widow of 
Samuel S. Burr, of Haverhill; Abigail, born February 14, 1808, died 
unmarried, August 29, 1841 ; Nathan, February 15, 1810, married first, 
Elizabeth H,, daughter of John "Whittaker, second, Abigail, daughter of 
Wyded Sawyer, and third, Lois Ann, daughter of Joshua Davis; and 
William, born January 10, 1813, married Maria L. Anderson, of Hamp- 
stead, N. H. 

Lo*iGLEY, Dk. Euftjs, was a native of Shirley, Mass. Having pur-» 
sued the. preparatory studies at Lawrence Academy, in Groton, he entered 
Harvard L^niversity, and remained there about two years, but left College, 
with a number of his Class, before he had completed his collegiate course. 
An Honorary degree was subsequently conferred on him by that InstitU" 
tion. Having completed a full course of medical studies, and received a 
medical degree from Dartmouth College, he commenced the practice of his 
profession in Haverhill, in 1812. His talent, manly bearing, and profes- 
sional ability, soon won the respect and confidence of the people, which he 
retained undiminished to the close of life. He was an eminently useful 
citizen, taking a lively interest in the well-being of the community, and 
his fellow-citizens were glad to place him in municipal offices whenever he 
would accept them. In politics, a decided and consistent yet liberal dis- 
ciple of the school of "Washington, he was always active and zealous in 
the support of the principles to which he was attached ; but although 
favorably known through the County, his professional engagements would 
not allow him to be a candidate for political office, except that he yielded 
to the wishes of the District and was chosen one of the Harrison Electors 
of President in 1840. Such was the confidence in his integrity and 
ability that a full share of the responsibilities of this community were 
devolved upon him. He was for many years President of the Savings 
Institution, and also of the Merrimack Bank, which latter office he held 
at his decease ; he was a prominent member of the Merrimack Lodge of 
Free-masons in this place, and was its Master from 1817 to 1826, and 
also from its re-organization, in 1852, to his death, in 1854. It may be 
mentioned, as a somewhat remarkable fact, in his forty-three years of pro- 
fessional experience, that his first patient in the town was also the last to 

• See page 88, 



./ 



638 niSTORY OF lIAVEfeHlLt. 

receive a professional visit from liim. Mr. Longley died March 12, 1854, 
Aged 06 years. 

Marsh. This is the name of an ancient family in the town, whose 
descendants have become numerous and gone out into every part of our 
wide land. 

Onesiphorus, who was the son of George Marsh who was admitted a 
"freeman" in the Mass. Colony, in 1635, and settled in Hingham, im- 
migrated to this town within ten years of its settlement. He located at 
what was long called " Marsh's Hill," a mile west of the village. He 
left at least three sons and two daughters, — -Onesiphorus, Jr., John, 
Thomas, Mary, and Abigail. 'J'homas died 1690, of — as it is called in 
the town records — the " Canada pox ; " the other children married and 
had large familes. 

John married, November 16, 1688, Lydia Emerson, a,nd had ten chil- 
dren: Elizabeth, born August 13, 1689 ; Sarah, born June 2, 1691 ; John, 
born August 19, 1693 ; Thomas, born October 23, 1695; David, born Jan- 
uary 21, 1098; Jonathan, born Jijne 15, 1700; Mehitabel, born July 20, 
1702; Abigail, born May 28, 1705; Hiinnah, born November 27, 1707; 
and Ephraim, born April 2, 1710. Lydia, the wife of John, died in 1719, 
and he married widow Mary Eaton, in 1720. In 1721, he was chosen 
deacon of the First Parish Church, and died November 24, 1734. 

David, son of John, married Mary Moody, of Newbury, August 1722, 
and had twelve children : Elizabeth, born June 29, 1723; Mary, March 
12, 1725; Judith, May 5, 1727; Cutting, March 20, 1728; David, 
March 27, 1731; Moses, February 9, 1732; Jonathan, May 25, 1735; 
Enoch, August 3, 1737; Nathaniel, December 31, 1739; John, Novem- 
ber 2d, 1743; Lydia, February 5, 1745; and Abigail, April 3, 1747. 
David, senior, was chosen deacon, instead of his deceased father, in 17374 
and filled the office until his death, November 2, 1777. Mary, his widow, 
long survived him, and died May 12, 1794, in the 91st year of her age. 
This family presents a rare example of long life in all its members. The 
shortest lived one, Enoch, lived to be 68 years old ; and the average of 
the twelve was eighty-two years and one month. Perhaps the cause lay 
in the temperance, frugality, and industry, of which they were all bright 
examples. Their parents removed, about 1731, from Marsh's Hill to the 
village — to the site adjoining, on the north, the Centre Church, and still 
in possession of a descendant. 

jMoscs, son of David, married Eebckah Walker, February 6, 1759, and 
had twelve children: Lydia, born June 23, 1700, died aged 8 years; 
Moses, born December 21, 1701; Mary, born August 23, 1763; Lydia 




i^s^H 



"\ 



H, 



-"^Sn 






HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 639 

born July 28, 1765; David, born July 26, 1767; James, born October 6, 
1769 ; Nathaniel, born August 11, 1771, died young; Nathaniel, born 
July 1. 177!^; Eebekah, born' February 1 1 , 1777; John, born February 
10, 1780; Jonathan, born July 30, 1782; and Samuel, born January 19, 
1786. Of this once numerous family, only Samuel, the youngest, sur- 
vives at the present; he resides in New York, and enjoys, amid active 
pursuits, comfortable health. The father died October 20, 1820, and the 
mother, January 15, 1823, the former aged 88, and the latter 84. Most 
of the children also lived to an advanced age. David, whose likeness is 
here inserted, copied from a portrait painted when he was about 77 years 
old, died August 30, 1854, in his 88th year. While he passed his long 
life in the humble paths of mechanical, mercantile, and agricultural occu- 
pations yet no one of the name is more worthy to be contemplated by his 
numerous relatives, as a model of every virtue. Many, on seeing the 
likeness, will recall pleasant recollections of events long since passed 
away. 

In partnership with his brother, John, he did business for nearly fifty 
years on Merrimack Street, in a store on the river-side, just east of the 
residence of John Plummer, while their residences were on the opposite 
side of the street — the fifth and sixth houses from Little Eiver. There 
they manufactured hand-cards for carding wool, before machines for that 
purpose, driven by water, were introduced here. After their introduction, 
and during the second war with England, they began to make the machines 
also, and the cards with them. They made, probably, the first carding 
machine used in this part of the country, for Mr. Marl and, of Andover, 
and under his direction. Subsequently, they sent many into New Hamp- 
shire and Maine. They were engaged, too, for some years, in the earlier 
stage of the business here, in the manufacture of shoes. And, in the 
long course of their business, the example of David and John Marsh 
became proverbial, not only for the fairness of their dealings and their 
promptness to meet all obligations, but likewise for the brotherly kindness 
which marked their intercourse with each other. 

Merrill, Hon. James Gushing, son of Eev. Gyles Merrill, was born 
in Haverhill, September 27, 1784, and graduated at Harvard College in 
1807. He settled in Boston as a lawyer, and was afterward Judge of the 
Police Court in Boston. He married, November 28, 1820, Anna, daugh- 
ter of Dr. Nathaniel Saltonstall, by whom he had four children. Judge 
Merrill died October 4, 1853. His widow still resides in Haverhill. 

MiNOT, Hon. Stephen was born in Concord, Mass., September 28, 
1776, and graduated at Harvard College, in 1801. He studied law with 



640 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

Hon. Samuel Dana, of Groton, and was admitted to the Middlesex bar, in 
1804, He practiced his profession about one year in New Gloucester, and 
Minot, Me., and then removed to Haverhill,' where he continued to reside 
until his death, April 6, 1861. In 1810, he purchased a water privilege 
at Methuen village, and soon after erected the first cotton mill at that 
place, which he continued to operate for several years. He was at one 
time County Attorney for Essex, and was Judge from 1811 to 1820. 

His mind was clear in its perception and logical in its conclusions. 
Firm in purpose, exact and punctual in method and habits, of strict integ- 
rity, fearless in spirit, he was ever prompt to say or do whatever his 
judgment approved. He was a liberal supporter of the institutions of 
religion, whose ministrations he attended with great regularity, as long as 
his infirmities would admit. Of great regularity and temperance in his 
manner of life ; in his private relations, a true, affectionate, generous 
friend. In conversation, he was genial, and rich in anecdote. During 
the latter part of his life, having withdrawn from professional labors, 
he spent much of his time in mathematical studies, in which he took great 
delight, and in reading the Latin classics. The late George Minot, Esq., 
a sound and able lawyer, of Boston, author of Minot's Digest, a work well 
known to the profession, was his youngest son. 

MooERS, GE>f. Benjamin. As Gen. Mooers was a native of Haverhill, 
we copy the following obituary notice of him from the Plattsburg (New 
York) Whiff, of the 24th February, 1838: — 

"Died in this village, on the 20th inst., Major General Benjamin 
Mooers, in the 80th year of his age. 

The venerable man whose loss the public are called to mourn, was born 
in Haverhill, Mass., April 1st 1758 — and consequently would have been, 
had he lived to the first of April next, eighty years old. In 1776, when 
he was eighteen years of age, he entered the army as a volunteer. In the 
summer of this year,' he was at Ticonderoga, at which place he read, for 
the first time, the Declaration of Independence, adopted by Congress on 
the 4th of July of that year. In the winter following he was appointed 
ensign in the 1st Congress Eegiment, or as it was usually termed 'Con- 
gress' own.' This was a favorite regiment, made up mostly of Canadian 
refugees — said to be as brave and gallant a corps as any in the army. 
This regiment was commanded by Col Moses Hazen,"- a gallant ofiicer, 
who subsequently rose to the rank of Brigadier, but retained through the 
war the Colonelcy of his regiment of ' Congress' own.' Ensign Mooers 
was soon after promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 

Also a native of Hftverhill. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 641 

a*egiment in which capacity he served until the end of the war. The regi- 
ment to which he was attached was not an idle one in the great struggle 
which was then going on, and consequently Adj't Mooers saw much mili- 
tary service. Besides various other active duties, he was present at the 
surrender of Gren. Burgoyne at Saratoga, and at the siege of Yorktown, 
and at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. 

At the close of the war in 1783, he, with two other officers and 8 
privates of his regiment (now disbanded) left the head quarters, at New- 
burgh, and came to this country, then a perfect wilderness. There was not 
at this time a civilized inhabitant within the borders of this county. 

Gen. Mooers has been a citizen of this county ever since he first landed, 
now nearly fifty years." 

He was the first Sheriif of this county — and represented the County 
in the Assembly of this State four terms. He has also served four years in 
the Senate of this State, and was chosen President pro tern of that body. 
He became an officer in the militia at an early day, and finally rose to the 
rank of Major General, in which capacity he was in the service of 
the United States in 1812; and, with the detached militia, commanded 
at the siege of Plattsburg in 1814:, with so much credit to himself as to 
merit the commendation of the legislature of his state, and the presenta- 
tion of a sword. For thirty-eight successive years Gen. Mooers was the 
treasurer of the County. 

In all the charitable and benevolent institutions of the day, General 
Mooers was always conspicuous — - was President of the Clinton County 
Bible Society, and of the County Temperance Society. 

General Mooers sustained all the relations of life without reproach. 
As a citizen his example is worthy of all imitation. As a husband, father, 
neighbor or friend, he was kind and affectionate, but just. As a subject 
of the laws of his country, he obeyed with alacrity all their obligations, 
moral, civil and social. As a military man, he combined the rare qualifi- 
ications of moderation and firmness. In his civil employments, he always 
acted with sound judgment and uncompromising principle ; and he never 
failed to secure the good will of those with whom he acted, or of his con- 
stituents." 

Newell, Harriet. Harriet Atwood, afterward Mrs. New«ll, was a 
daughter of Moses Atwood, an extensive and respected merchant of Hav- 
erhill, where she was born October 10, 1793.=-'-= Of a cheerful disposition 

" The house in which she first saw the light is still standing, and is the one next west of the Firet 
Parish Church. It is partly occupied by Robert Willis, Esq., whose wife is a sister of Harribt Newell. 

81 



642 HiSTOEY OF HAVERHILt. 

and ardent feelings, she early manifested a strong love of books, and at 
thirst for mental improvement. In the summer of 1808, she attended 
Bradford Academy, aod while there, a powerful religious awakening, in 
which she was a participant, visited the school. During that revival, the 
subject of our sketch became hopefully pious, and engaged in the work 
of her Master with all the ardor for which she was so greatly distinguished 
a few years subsequently. 

In the fall of 1810, when she had just completed her seventeenth year, 
her attention was first turned to the subject of missionary labor among 
the heathen. Under date of October 10, of the above year, she thus 
writes : — 

" A female friend''-' called upon us this morning. She informed me of 
her determination to quit her native land for ever, to endure the sufferings 
of a christian amongst heathen nations, to spend her days in India's sul- 
try clime. How did the news affect my heart ! Is she willing to do all 
this for God ; and shall I refuse to lend my little aid, in a land where 
divine revelation has shed its brightest rays ? I have felt more, for the 
salvation of the heathen, this day, than I recollect to have felt through 
my whole past life." 

A few days later, she had her first interview with her future companion 
in life. She thus speaks of it : — " Oct 23, Mr M introduced Mr Newell 
to our family. He appears to be an engaged christian. Expects to spend 
his life in preaching a Savior to the benighted pagans." 

(Eev. Samuel Newell was a graduate of Harvard College, and pursued 
his studies for the ministry, at Andover. In June, 1810, he and four 
other young men,f consecrated their future labors to the cause of foreign 
missions, and offered their services for this object to the General Associa- 
tion of Massachusetts, then in session at Bradford. This offer led to 
the establishment of the "American Board of Commissioners for Foreign 
Missions," under whose direction they placed themselves.) 

In the following April, Miss Atwood received a formal proposal from 
Mr. Newell to become his wife, and with him devote her life to missionary 
labor. The letter called for an immediate answer. She was then in Bos- 
ton, but immediately hastened home, to ask a mother's advice. Of the 
interview, she thus writes: — " Dejected and weary, I arrived at the deaf 
mansion where I have spent so many happy hours. My dear mother met 
me at the door with a countenance that bespoke the tranquility of her 
mind. ■•' '■' '-= " =•' With tears in her eyes, she said ' If a convictiou 

<» Miss Nancy Haseltine, afterward Mrs. Judson. 

•f Adoniram Judson, Jr., Samuel Nott, Jr., Samuel J. Mills, and Hall. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 643 

of duty, and love to the souls of the perishing heathen, lead you to India, 
as much as I love you, Harriet, I can only say, Go.' " She accepted the 
proposal. 

After a few months' preparation, the hour of her final departure drew 
near. On the 6th of February, 1812, the missionaries were ordained at 
Salem ; on the 9th of the same month, she was married to Rev. Samuel 
Newell," and ten days afterward, Mr. and Mrs. Newell, and their mis- 
sionary associates, Mr. and Mrs. Judson, sailed from Salem, in the Cara- 
van, for Calcutta. 

After a tedious voyage, they arrived at Calcutta on the 17th of the fol- 
lowing June. They found the East India Company violently opposed to 
missions, and within a short month were " ordered by the government 
to leave the British territories, and return to America immediately." The 
captain of the Caravan was refused a home clearance for his vessel, un- 
less he engaged to take the missionaries with him. Finally, after many 
trials, and perplexities, they obtained liberty to go to the Isle of France, 
where they heard the English governor favored missions, and where there 
was a large field of labor. 

They embarked on the 4th of August. The next day Mrs. Newell was 
ill of a fever, but after a few days recovered, and again enjoyed a fair 
degree of health. After nearly a month of contrary winds and bad 
weather, during which but little progress was made, the ship sprung a-leak 
and put about for the nearest port, which happened to be Coringa, a small 
town on the Coromandel coast. Four days before their arrival at that 
port, Mrs. Newell was again prostrated by sickness, but after a fortnight's 
rest, she so far recovered as to be able to re-embark. Three weeks after 
leaving the port, she gave birth to a daughter. Four days later, in con- 
sequence of a severe storm, the " little Harriet " took cold, and the next 
day expired in its mother's arms. In a few days, the symptoms of that 
dread disease which numbers so many among its victims, and which had 
already claimed her father and several of her family connexions, made 
their appearance, and she gave up all hope of recovery. 

On the 31st of October, they came to anchor in the harbor of Port 
Louis. Her husband in a few days rented a small house in a healthy part 
of the town, and removed her, but her symptoms became worse, and she 
continued to fail. On Monday, the 30 th of November, 1812 ; at the early 

o From the Merrimack Intelligencer of February 15, 1S12, we copy the following : — " Married, at 
Bradford, Rev. Adouiram Judson, missionary to India, to Miss Nancy Haseltine. In this town, Rev. 
Bamuel Newell, missionary to India, to Miss Harriet Atwopd." 



644 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 

age of 19 years and two months; she ealmly fell asleep, and was hnrie^ 
at that port. 

A marble monument has since been erected over her grave, with the 
following inscription : — 

" Sacred to the memory of Mrs Harriet Atwood, wife of Kev. Samuel 
Newell, missionary at Boinbay. Born, Haverhill, Mass., U. S. A., Oct. 
10, 1793. Died, after a distressing voyage from India to this place,. 
November 30, 1812. Early devoted to Christ, her heart burned for the 
Heathen ; for them she left her kindred and her native land, and wel- 
comed danger and sufferings. Of excellent understanding, rich in accomp- 
lishments and virtues, she was the delight of her friends, a crown to her 
husband, and an ornament to the Missionary cause. Her shoi-t life was 
bright, her death full of glory. Her name lives, and in all Christian 
lands is pleading with irresistable eloquence for the heathen. This hum- 
ble monument to her memory is erected by the American Board of 
Commissioners for Foreign Missions." 

Peaslee, Joseph, came from England, and settled in Newbury, Mass. 
He was made a freeman in 1642, and removed to Haverhill before 1646. 
For a time he supplied the place of a minister in Amesbury, as a lay 
preacher, a " gifted brother," as the church records call him, and occa- 
sionally, he practiced medicine. His wife's name was Mary. He died in 
1661, leaving two children, Joseph and Elizabeth. 

Joseph, Jr., was born at Haverhill, September 9, 1646, and died Nov- 
ember 5, 1723. He was a physician, and married Euth Barnard. Col. 
Nathaniel Peaslee, of this town, was his son, and was born June 25, 1682. 
The latter married for his first wife, Judith Kimball, by whom he had 
Hannah, born May 1, 1703, married Joseph Badger, a merchant of Hav- 
erhill, and was the father of Gen. Joseph Badger, of Gilmanton, N. H. : 
Susanna, bom May 10, 1712, married Kev. Christopher Sargeant, of 
Methuen, who was the father of the Hon. Nathaniel Peaslee Sargeant, 
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. Col. Peaslee's 
wife died August 15, 1741. He married for a second wife, Abiah Swan, 
of Methuen, by whom he had one child, Abigail. The latter married 
Humphrey Moody, of Haverhill, the father of William, a graduate of 
Dartmouth College. For her second husband, Mrs. Moody married Gen. 
James Erickett, a physician of distinction. Gen. Brickett married, for 
his third wife, Mrs. Martha Hutchins, whose maiden name was Greelee. 
Col. Nathaniel Peaslee was a merchant, and a large land-owner, and a 
prominent man in the town. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 645 

Saltonstall, Hon. Gurdon, eon of Nathaniel, was born in Haverhill, 
March 27, 16G6, and graduated at Harvard College in 1684, where he 
was distinguished as a profound scholar, and gave promise of his future 
greatness. In May, 1688, he received a unanimous call to settle as pastor 
of the church in New London, Conn., which call he accepted, and was or- 
dained November 19, 1691. He was in person tall and .well proportioned, 
of dignified demeanor, of eminent intellectual endowments and acquire- 
ments, and a graceful and impressive elocution. He was an advocate of 
vigorous ecclesiastical authority, always striving to exalt the ministerial 
office, to maintain its dignity, and to enlarge the powers of ecclesiastical 
bodies ; which gave him unbounded popularity among his clerical 
brethren. 

He soon became a celebrated preacher, and so rapid was the growth of 
his reputation, that, in 1707, upon the death of Fitz-John Winthrop, he 
was chosen Governor by the Legislature. So great was the respect for 
his character, that " the Assembly repealed the law which required that 
the Governor should always be chosen from among the magistrates in nom- 
ination, and gave liberty for the freemen to elect him from among them- 
selves at large. Mr Saltonstall accepted of the appointment, and entered 
upon the duties of his office, January 1, 1708. He was continued in 
the office until his death, which was very sudden, on the 20th September, 
1724. 

Hon. JRichard Saltonstall ^as horn in Haverhill, June 24, 1703, and 
graduated at Harvard College in 1722. In 1726, (at the age of 23 years) 
he was commissioned as Colonel ; and was appointed Judge of the Supe- 
rior Court, in 1736, at the age of 33 years. He was for several years 
one of His Majesty's Council. He "was a man of talents and learning; 
was distinguished for generous and elegant hospitality, and for his boun- 
tiful liberality to the poor. His address was polished, affable and win- 
ning, his temper was gentle and benevolent, and he enjoyed the love and 
esteem of all." He married, first, January 6, 1726, Abigail, daughter of 
Eichard Waldron ; second, March 4, 1740, Mary, daughter of John 
Jekyll, Esq., of Boston; third, Mary, daughter of Elisha Cooke Jr., Esq., 
of Boston. His children were — Abigail, married Col. George Watson, 
of Plymouth ; Elizabeth ; Eichard, the loyalist ; William ; William ; 
Nathaniel, physician, of Haverhill ; Mary, married Eev. Moses Badger ; 
Middlecott Cooke ; and Leverett, a Captain under Cornwallis. Judge 
Saltonstall died October 20, 1756, after a long illness, and in the 54th 
year of his age. 



646 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

Gol. Richard Sakonstall was tte eldest son of Judge Eichard Sal- 
tonstall, of Haverhill, where he was born, April 5, 1732. He gradu- 
ated at Harvard College in 1751. He was appointed Colonel of the 
regiment at the early age of twenty-two years, and was the fourth of 
the family in succession who held the office of Colonel. In the rank 
of Major, he was engaged in active service in the French War on Lake 
George, and belonged to that body which capitulated at Fort William 
Henry, August 9, 1757. When the Indians fell upon the unarmed pris- 
oners, he fled to the woods, and very narrowly escaped death in that horrid 
massacre. He commanded a regiment from 17G0 until the end of the 
war. Soon after this, he was appointed High Sheriff of the County of 
Esssex. 

Col. Saltonstall was a firm loyalist, and uniformly opposed the measures 
taken in opposition to the royal government. He deemed the proceedings 
of the British Parliament extremely inexpedient, but he never doubted 
their right to tax their American Colonies. In the autumn of 1774, he 
fled to Boston, and soon afterward embarked for England. He refused to 
enter the British service, lest he should be directed to act against his 
native country. The King, nevertheless, granted him a pension, and he 
never returned to America. 

Col. Saltonstall resided upon the family estate in Haverhill, in a liberal 
and hospitable manner. He was characterized by integrity, frankness, 
a benevolent disposition, polished manners, and a superior understanding 
and knowledge of the world, which made him much beloved, and gave him 
great influence. He died unmarried, October 6, 1785, at Kensington, Eng- 
land, where there is a monument erected to his memory. 

Dr. Nathaniel Saltonstall, son of Judge Richard, was born in Haver- 
hill, February 10, 1746. At the age of ten years, upon the decease of 
his father, he was received into the family of his uncle, Meddlecott 
Cooke, Esq., of Boston. He graduated at Harvard College, in 1766, and 
settled in Haverhill, where he devoted his life to the practice of medicine. 
His classical education and general intelligence, his eminent professional 
skill, and conscientious discharge of duty, his gentle manners and kind 
disposition, and his strong attachment to the liberty and independence of 
his country, acquired for him great respect in the community, and the 
affection and entire confidence of his patients. He was remarkable for 
his humane and assiduous attention to the poor, consoling them by his 
friendly, cheerful demeanor, and by the medicines and other necessaries 
which he freely supplied, without the prospect of any pecuniary remuner- 
ation. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 647 

At a time when all bis brothei-s, and brothers-in-law, adhered to those 
principles of loyalty in which they had been educated, Dr. Saltonstall 
remained true to those principles of civil liberty and humanity which he 
inherited from his worthy ancestor, Sir Eichard Saltonstall, and his not 
less worthy son, Richard, of Ipswich. He was a firm and self-sacrificing 
patriot. This conscientious adherence to his principles separated him for- 
ever from those he most loved. It was to him a severe trial, and gave the 
strongest proof of his sincerity, and the strength of his principles. These 
had probably been much invigorated by his training in the patriotic Cooke 
family. He died May 15, 1815, aged 65. 

Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, eldest son of Dr. Nathaniel, of Haverhill, 
was born June 13, 1783, prepared for College at Phillips' Exeter Acad- 
emy, entered Harvard University, in 1798, at the early age of 15, and 
was graduated with distinction, in 1802. He began the study of the law 
with Ichabod Tucker, Esq., then of Haverhill, who subsequently, for 
many years, was Clerk of the Courts in Essex County ; and completed his 
legal studies under the direction of the late learned and lamented Hon, 
William Prescott, of Salem. He entered upon the practice of his profes- 
sion in his native town, in 1805, but in May, 1808, removed to Salem, 
Mass., where the remainder of his life was passed, and became distin- 
guished as an advocate. He was early called upon to take part in the 
public councils ; was a member, at various times, of the Massachusetts 
House of Eepresentatives ; President of the State Senate, in 1831 ; first 
Mayor of the city of Salem; Eepresentative to Congress; President 
of the Bible Society, of the Essex Agricultural Society, and of the Essex 
Bar ; a prominent member of various literary and scientific institutions, 
and of the Board of Overseers of Harvard College, from which institution 
he received, in 1838, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. He ever 
cherished an ardent affection for the places of his education, and in his 
will he made a bequest of books to the library of the Exeter Academy ; 
and a legacy to Harvard College, to increase the fund long before be- 
queathed to it by his ancestors. He attended every annual Commencment 
of his Alma Mater,' except two, from the time he graduated until his death. 
As a public man, Mr. Saltonstall was an effective debater, a pleasing and 
favorite speaker, in politics a Whig, inflexible in his principles, unwaver- 
ing in his course, and unstained by a single suspicion of vacillation or 
inconsistency. He was in every sense " a true son of Massachusetts," 
and his death was mourned as a public bereavement. He died May 8, 
1845. 



^48 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 

Sargeant, Hon. Nathaniel Peaslee, was a son of Eev. Christophey 
Sargeant, tlie first minister in Metliuen, Mass. His mother was a 
daughter of Nathaniel Peaslee, Esq., of Haverhill. He received his public 
education in Harvard College, where he was graduated in 1750, and soon 
after commenced the practice of law in this town. He had the character 
of an able and honest attorney, though never distinguished at the bar as an 
advocate. He possessed sound judgment, and excellent learning, and but 
few men were more respected for integrity, and uniformity of conduct. 
He may justly be ranked among the patriots of 1770 and 1775, He was 
not, perhaps, so ardent as some others ; but he was decided in support of 
civil freedom, and could always be depended upon, as a prudent and effi- 
cient supporter of the ancient privileges and rights of the colonies. Mr. 
Sargeant was a delegate from this town to the Provincial Congress, which 
met at Cambridge, in February, 1775 ; and, in 1776, was a member of the 
House of Kepresentatives. In both of these bodies he was a prominent 
working member, and was frequently placed on the most important com- 
mittees. 

After the Constitution of Massachusetts was adopted, in 1780, he had 
a seat on the bench of the Supreme Judicial Court ; and on the appoint- 
ment of William Cushing, to be a Judge of the Supreme Court of the 
United States, Mr. Sargeant was made Chief Justice. As a Judge, he 
won the respect and commendation of all, for his ability, integrity, and 
impartiality. He died in 1792. 

Sibley, Jacob, (born May, 1746, died June 25, 1831, at Hopkinton, 
N. H.,) married Anna, daughter of Gideon George, a shoemaker and far- 
mer of East Haverhill, Mass., whose wife, a Jewett, came to this country 
when fourteen days old. She was born September 11, 1749, and died 
September 20, 1828. After their wedding they rode on one horse from 
Haverhill to his sister Stevens', on Sugar Hill in Hopkinton; whence, 
there being no road, they walked two miles in a narrow path, through the 
woods, to their humble dwelling, driving before them a little spotted pig. 
Her "fitting out" consisted of three white cups and three saucers, three 
knives, three forks, one coverlet made of hair and tow, and one of wool. 
In 1774, they took a journey, on horseback, to Haverhill and Stratham, 
and back ; the mother seated behind the father, who carried his only child 
in his arms before him. In 1776, Mr. Sibley was in the military at Ports- 
mouth, and worked on Fort Constitution. While there, his wife, besides 
attending to her domestic duties and taking care of her two children, hoed 
three acres of corn upon burnt land. This was a few months before the 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 649 

Mrth of her third child. In the latter part of her life, her physical 
strength gradually failed, till she lost entirely the power of locomotion. 
She left ten children. — From Sibley's Hist. Union, Me. 

Smiley, De. David, was born in Haverhill, Mass., April 10, 1760. 
At an early age, he was bound an apprentice to a Mr. Hale, in this town, 
a shoemaker. He continued to work with his master till his seventeenth 
year, when he enlisted in the American army. He was stationed at 
Winter Hill for three months, the period of his enlistment, when he re- 
turned home. He afterward enlisted again, and was at Stillwater, "West 
Point, and in New Jersey. He was finally placed in command of a small 
guard on Fishkill Mountains, where he remained until his term of service 
expired. In returning to Haverhill, he walked, in company with five 
others, sixty miles in one day, and spent the greater part of his wages, in 
the depreciated currency of the country for his day's food. In 1782, he 
married Rachel Johnson, of the East Parish in this town, and in the same 
year moved to Peterborough, N. H., where he worked at his trade for about 
two years. In 1784:, he moved to Alstead, N. H. Two years later, he 
purchased a small farm in the northeast part of Peterborough, where 
he immediately moved. In 1793, he began the study of medicine, with 
Dr. Stephen Jewett, of Rindge, N. H. His practice commenced almost 
simultaneously with his studies, and for many years he had a large prac- 
tice. His ride extended into all the neighboring towns, and not unfre- 
•quently into more distant town3 in other counties. Though not a regularly 
educated physician, he enjoyed the confidence of many of the most intelli- 
gent families, and commanded the respect of all who knew him. He 
resided on his farm until the death of his wife, in 1 842, when he went to 
live with his son in the village of the same town. He gave up the labo- 
rious duties of his profession only when compelled to do so by the 
infirmities of age. He died at the same place, October 3, 1855, aged 95 
years and nearly six months. 

Varnum, Hon. John, was born in Dracut, in 1778, graduated at Har- 
vard College, in 1798, and entered the office of Judge Smith, of Exeter, 
as a student. In 1802, he came to Haverhill, and commenced the practice 
of the law. He was highly successful. Liberal to a fault, warm-hearted 
and gentlemanly in his profession, he usually had the satisfaction of con- 
ducting his cases without giving ofience to either party. He was of the 
Federal school of politics. In 1811, he was elected to the Senate, and in 
1826, he was elected to Congress from the Essex North District. He wag 

ffe-eleeted in 1828. During this period he was associated in business with 

82 



650 HISTOBY OP HATERHILl. 

Isaac E. Howe, Esq. After he returned from Congress, he removed to 
Lowell, and from thence to Niles, Michigan, where he died July 23, 1836, 
after a short illness. He married, Octoher 9, 1606, Mary Cooke, daugh- 
ter of Dr. Nathaniel Saltonstall, of Haverhill, by whom he had three 
sons. 

White, Hon. Leonard, was a native of Haverhill, a direct descendant 
of William White,- one of the first company of settlers in Haverhill, and 
the Eev. George Phillips, the first pastor of Watertown. He took his 
christian name from his maternal grandfather, the Eev. Nathaniel Leon- 
ard, of Plymouth, who was a descendant of James Leonard. His grand- 
father, Leonard, married the daughter of Daniel Eogers, of Ipswich ; was 
the Eegister of Probate for this County for twenty years, and a practicing 
physician, who, on his return from a visit, was bewildered in a snow-storm 
and perished. Mr. White was the class-mate and friend of John Quincy 
Adams, and they were, before going to college, fellow-students with the 
Eev. Mr. Shaw, of Haverhill. They were of the class of 1789, at Har- 
vard College. At the period of his college life, every freshman had his 
patron, selected by himself, in the senior class ; and Mr. White was the 
patron of President Quincy. 

Mr. White married early, Mary, the eldest daughter of Hon. Tristram 
Dalton, and the grand-daughter of " King " Hooper, of Marblehead. By 
this marriage he had a numerous family. This lady died some ten years 
previous to Mr. White, and he afterward married Mrs. Cummings. 

Perhaps no man ever lived more distinguished for fidelity to every trust 
and punctuality in the performance of every duty. He was for many 
years Town Clerk and Treasurer, and represented his town in the Legisla- 
ture, and his District in Congress, from 1811 to 1813, 

At this period, the Merrimack Bank was incorporated, and he became 
its first cashier, which office he held, with unsullied reputation, for a quar- 
ter of a century, and until the infirmities of age rendered repose from its 
arduous duties necessary. He was a real gentleman of the old school, of 
the kindest and most cheerful disposition. He was a member of the Bap- 
tist Church, and his old age was cheered by the benignant light and 
cheering hopes of the gospel, in which he was a firm believer, and an 
humble and faithful follower. Modest, retiring, and unassuming, he en- 
joyed the most unbounded confidence and trust in his integrity. For the 
last two years of his life, he declined, under the repeated attacks of paraly- 
sis, and his death was as quiet and undisturbed as an infant's sleep ; and 
on his tomb-stone maybe most emphatically inscribed — "Here lies an 
honest man." He died October 10, 1849, aged 82 vears. 




oJ^i^yi^CZ^J/^^'^^ 



aiSTORT OF HAVERHILL. 651 

WoODBRTDGE, Benjamin, who married Mary, the daughter of Eev. Jolin 
Ward, (sec page 168) was probably a son of John Woodbridge, who was 
born in Stanton, Wiltshire, in 16.13, came to New England in 1634:, and 
to Newbury in 163.3. The latter married Mercy Dudley, daughter of 
Gov. Thomas Dudley, and died March 17, 1695. He was town register 
of Newbury, in 1636, 



r 



652 HISTORY OP HAVEHHILIfc. 



CHAPTEE XXXI. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Newspapers. — The first newspaper published in this town, was the 
" Guardian of Freedom. Printed and published every Friday morning, 
by E Ladd and S Bragg, in Haverhill (Massachusetts,) 9s. pr. ann." 
The first number was issued September 6, 1793. It contained sixteen 
columns of print, each fifteen and one-half inches long and two and one- 
quarter inches wide, nearly all of which was in small pica type. At first, 
the paper hardly contained a " stickful " of advertisements, and it was 
nearly two years before they had increased so as to occupy one whole 
column. In politics, the paper was classed as Federal. The publication 
day was changed in a few weeks, to Mondays, and still later, to Thurs- 
days. ••^ May 10th, 1791, (vol. 1, No. 29,) Eliphalet Ladd assumed the 
sole proprietorship of the paper. On the 29th of the same month, (vol. 
1, No. 35,) he was succeeded by Samuel Aiken, who, four weeks after- 
ward, (June 26th, vol. 1, No. 40,) transfen-ed his interest to Benjamin 
Edes, Jr. 

In 1798, the above paper was discontinued, but was soon succeeded by 
another, styled the Impartial Herald. This enjoyed an existence of only 
two years, however, when it, in turn, was allowed to die, for want of 
support. 

In November, 1800, Tlie Observer was started, by Galen H. Fay. This 
was continued until December 4, 1804, when the establishment was sold 
to Francis Gould, who changed the name of the paper to Haverhill 
Museum. The Museum was published two years, (until November 22, 
1806, — just two volumes,) when it was discontinued, for want of sup- 
port. The printing office, however, was not abandoned. 

- The first newspaper publi she I in America, was the Boston Aeivs Letter, April 21, 1704. In 1771, 
there were but twtnty-five published in America. The first published in this county, was the Essex 
Gazette, at ijalem, in 1768. The first printing-press in the country, was established at Cambridge. Hass., 
in 1639. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 653 

In 1808, Wm. B. Allen, who had succeeded Gould in the printing busi- 
ness, commenced the publication of a paper, styled the Merrimack 
Intelligencer. In February, 1812, Mr. Allen formed a partnership with 
his brother, and the paper was published by the firm of Wm. B. & H. Gr. 
Allen. August 1, 1813, the senior member of the firm disposed of his 
entire interest to his partner, who continued the paper until the following 
January, (January 1, 1814,) when he sold out his paper, printing-office, 
and book-store, to William Greenough and Nathan Burrill.'-' 

Mr. Burrill was a book-binder, and the first one in the town. He 
removed here, and commenced the business, in February, 1809. Mr. 
Greenough was a printer, and removed his printing-office from Boston to 
Haverhill, on the breaking out of the War of 1812. 

November 5, 1814, Mr. Greenough sold out his interest to Thomas 
Tileston, who had been his apprentice, and the three branches of business 
were carried on, under the style of Burrill & Tileston, until January, 
1818, when the partnership was dissolved, and the property divided. The 
Intelligencer had never paid its cost, and when the above firm dissolved, it 
was made over to Peter W. Green, (afterward Nathaniel Green) as a gift. 
Mr. Tileston went to New York, where he founded one of the earliest and 
largest wholesale shoe-houses in that city — that of Spofi'ord & Tileston. 
Mr. Burrill continued to carry on the book-binding and book-selling busi- 
ness, as heretofore. 

After lingering a few weeks in the hands of Mr. Green, the Intelligen- 
cer died. The same gentleman soon after started a new paper, called the 
Essex Patriot. This was a " democratic " newspaper, and the first of the 
kind in town, — the others mentioned having all been Federal organs. 
Mr. Green continued to publish the Patriot about three years, when he 
sold out to William Hastings. 

The gradual fading out of the federal sheet, and the establishment of 
the democratic Patriot, was not particularly agreeable to tne federalists, 
and a new paper was soon started. This was the Haverhill Gazette, by 
Nathan Burrill and Caleb Hersey, under the style of Bumll & Hersey. 
The first number was issued January 6, 1821. It was published Saturdays, 
at two dollars per annum, and was edited by Mr. Hersey. Mr. Burrill 
having just received admission into the Masonic fraternity, signified his 
high appreciation of that mystic brotherhood, by displaying the Masonic 
emblems at the head of his paper. Mr. Hersey continued as editor and 

* A book-store had been kept in town, in connection with the printing business, since 1804, or perhaps 
earlier. 



654 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

joint proprietor, until the close of the second volume, when he sold out 
his interest to his partner, and retired from the editorial chair, leaving the 
whole concern in the hands of Mr. Burrill. 

The able manner in which the Gazette was conducted, having completely 
eclipsed its rival, the Patriot, the two papers were consolidated, February 
1, 1823, under the name of the Haverhill Gazette and Essex Patriot, — 
"W. Hastings, editor and printer, N. Burrill, proprietor and publisher." 
This change, however, was merely a plan to cover the actual death of the 
Patriot, and in a little less than two months, (March 29) Mr. Hastings 
retired from the establishment altogether. 

In 1824, Mr. Burrill sold out his printing business, and paper, to Isaac 
E. Howe, Esq., and the bookstore to Mr. James Gale."' Mr. Howe edited 
and published the paper until October, 1826, when he engaged the services 
of Abijah W. Thayer to edit and superintend its publication.! 

In February, 1827, Mr. Thayer purchased the establishment, changed 
the name of the paper to the Essex Gazette, and assumed its entire con- 
trol. Mr. Thayer was a native of Peterborough, N. H., and served his 
apprenticeship to the printing business, in Boston. In 1817, he worked 
in Andover, where he became acquainted with Caleb Hersey, a fellow- 
journeyman. When Messrs. Burrill & Hersey started the Gazette, in 
January, 1821, Mr. Thayer was engaged to superintend its publication, 
in which he took an active interest. In May, 1822, he removed to the 
State of Maine, where he was connected with the Independent Statesman, 
at first as editor, and subsequently as editor and proprietor. From Octo- 
ber, 1826, to July 1835, Mr. Thayer resided in this town, during which 
time he was one of our most active, useful, and respected citizens. He 
was one of the first to enlist in the temperance movement, — was the Sec- 
retary of the first meeting, and the first Secretary of the first society when 
organized, in which office he continued until his removal from the town. 
He early advocated the cause in his paper, but such was the opposition to 
the movement, that in a short time he lost about four hundred subscribers. 
His Gazette was the first political paper that ever came out in advocacy 
of total abstinence from intoxicating liquors, and the second of any kind, 

•> While Mr. Burrill was connected with the printing business in this town, quite a large number of 
books were printed at his office. Some of them were published by the several firms with which Mr. 
Burrill was connected, but the greater part were printed for booksellers in Boston, and Salem. Among 
the books thus printed was the Bible, Watts' Psalms and Hymns, Murray's English Reader, Watts' 
World to Come, Beauties of Masonry, etc. 

t During this period, E. W. :Reinhart was, for a short time, editor, and John Varnum, Esq., joint 
proprietor with Mr. Howe. Reinhart afterward started the Daily Republican, at Baltimore ; and, stil' 
later, published the Virginia Advocate, at Charlotteville, Va. 



HISTORY' OF HAVERHILL. 655 

either in America, or in the world ! When the movement was commenced 
in Haverhill, there were twenty-nine places in town where liquors were 
sold, but in five years from that time there was not a single place where 
it was openly sold, and but one where it was supposed to be sold clandes- 
tinely. As a political paper, the Gazette was at that time classed among 
the very first in the county and State. 

January 26, 1828, H. B. Brewster issued a prospectus for a new weekly 
paper, to be called the j&are^-M^ ^ecorc?er / " impartial " in politics and 
religion. But it was never issued. 

February 4, 1832, Mr. Thayer issued proposals to publish a semi- 
weekly paper, under the name of ttft Haverhill Advertiser. The price 
was to be $2.50 per annum, and it was to be neutral in politics. Suffi- 
cient encouragement not being ofi"ered, the paper was never issued. 

May 5, 1832, Mr. Thayer commenced the publication of the Christian 
Messenger, a small weekly newspaper, of which he was principal editor, 
assisted by Eev. Dudley Phelps, and ^^v. Abijah Cross. It only reached 
a circulation of four hundred copies, and was discontinued February 23, 
1833, after an issue of thirty-two numbers. 

In the same year (1832) a political campaign paper was established in 
the town, under the name of the Haverhill Iris. Edwin Harriman, 
editor. It was started principally to advocate the election of Caleb Gush- 
ing to Congress. It was published about a year, when it was removed to 
Methuen. Harriman was subsequently (1838) associate editor of the 
Nashville (Tenn.) Banner. We believe he is now a resident reporter for 
the press, at Washington, D. C. 

May 4, 1834, Mr. Thayer issued proposals to publish the Essex Gazette 
semi-weekly, at $2.50 per annum, provided sufficient encouragement was 
oflFered to warrant the undertaking. But the project was abandoned before 
the change was made. 

In July, 1834, Eev. Thomas Gr. Farnsworth and Eben. H. Safford, 
commenced the publication of the Essex Banner and Haverhill Adver- 
tiser, a weekly democratic paper, at $2 per annum. The former gentleman 
was editor, and the latter superintended the publication. At the close of 
the second volume, (June 25, 1836,) Mr. Farnsworth retired from the 
editorial chair, and left the whole concern in the hands of his partner. 
From this time until January 6, 1838, the paper was edited by " an asso- 
ciation of gentlemen." At the latter date, William Taggart, Esq., became 
editor and joint proprietor, and so continued until March, 11, 1843, when 
Mr. Saiford again assumed the sole charge and proprietorship of the paper. 



656 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 

From that time, until the present, Mr. Safford has continued to be the 
editor, proprietor, and publisher, with the exception of a short period, 
under the presidential administration of James Buchanan, when the 
mechanical department of the paper was under the charge of C. C. Dear- 
born. 

With the exception of six months in 1830, (from January 1 to July 10) 
when John G. Whittier occupied the editorial chair,* Mr. Thayer was 
sole editor, publisher, and proprietor of the Essex Gazette, from the time 
already mentioned, until 1835. In July of that year, he sold the estab- 
lishment to Erastus Brooks, (who had been a former apprentice of his, at 
Portland, of which place Mr. Brooks was a native,) and removed from 
town.f 

Soon after purchasing the establishment, Mr. Brooks received an ap- 
pointment in one of the departments at Washington, to which city he 
removed, but continued the nominal editor of the Gazette, which was then 
published by J. H. Farwell, until #e following spring. 

May 4, 1836, John G. Whittier again assumed the editorial charge of 
the Gazette, Mr. Brooks continuing to furnish " letters from Washington," 
until the close of the volume. At the same time, Jacob Caldwell became 
proprietor of the paper, taking possession at the close of the volume. 

September 17, of the same year, Dr. Jeremiah Spofford became asso- 
ciated with Mr. AVhittier, taking the position of political editor. 

In October, Dr. Spofford became joint proprietor with Mr. Caldwell. 
December 17, Mr. Whittier retired from the editorial chair, and Dr. 
Spofford remained sole proprietor. 

January 7, 1837, the name of the paper was changed to its original one 
— Haverhill Gazette. It was now published by Spofford & Harris. At 
the close of the volume, in 1838, (December 28) John H. Harris became 
associate editor, as well as proprietor and publisher, and so continued un- 
til July 5, 1839, when he purchased the entire interest of his partner, 
who retired from the concern, after a connection of three years. 



o Friend Whittier was editor of the Boston Manufacturer, in 1828. He left the Gazette, in 1830, to 
take editorial charge of the New England Review, at Hartford, Conn., taking the place of George D. 
Prentice, who went to Louiaville, Ky., to edit the Louisville Journal, a paper established to advocate 
the election of Henry Clay to the Presidency. Mr. Whittier was connected with the Review about 
eighteen months. 

t Since he removed from Haverhill, Mr. Thayer has been connected with papers in Philadelphia, 
Northampton, and Worcester. He is at present residing -in Northampton, JIass., beloved and respected 
in every relation of life. 



BISTORT OF HAVERHILL. 657 

May 1, 1840, Mr. Harris sold the establisliment to Wm. E. P. Eodgers, 
who continued to edit andpublisli the paper until October 1, 1843, when 
he was succeeded by its present editor and proprietor, Edward Gr. Froth- 
ingham, Esq. 

For many years past. Dr. Spofford has regularly contributed to its 
editorial columns, being virtually its political editor. Since the decease 
of the Whig party, the Gazette has advocated the interests of the so-called 
Eepublican party. 

In 1845, The Star in the East, a religious (christian) weekly quarto 
paper, edited by Eev. H. P. Guilford, was published in this town for a 
few months, by E. G. Frothingham. 

May 1, 1856, the first number of the Haverhill American Citizen, a 
weekly paper, was issued by John M, Harding, (son of Isaac) of this 
town. The paper, which was American in politics, was printed at Law- 
rence. The publication was continued but three months, when (August 
2, 1856,) the subscription list was transferred to the Haverhill Gazette. 

In April, 1857, The Masonic. Journal, a monthly, quarto paper, George 
W. Chase, editor and proprietor, was removed from Brunswick, Maine, to 
this town.'-"' In July 1859, it was changed to a semi-monthly, and so 
continued until January 1, 1860, when it was purchased by Eev. Cyril 
Pearl, who immediately removed the office of publication to Portland, 
Maine. 

January 1, 1859, Z. E. Stone, formerly editor and proprietor of the 
American Citizen, Lowell, Mass., commenced the publication of the Tri- 
Weekly Publisher, " an independent paper," at $3.00 per annum. The 
enterprise met with favor, and tRe new sheet was at once placed on a per- 
manent footing. In January, 1860, Mr. Stone disposed of his establish- 
ment to Messrs. E. G. Woodward and J. M. Palmer, both natives of 
Haverhill, who have continued its publication to the present time. The 
paper is issued Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings. 

In 1859, Messrs. D. P. Bodfish and A. L. Kimball commenced the pub- 
lication of a weekly paper called the Essex County Democrat. It was 
established as the organ of the administration wing of the democratic 
party. It is now published by Mr. Kimball. 

We have, therefore, at this time, (July 1, 1861,) four newspapers pub- 
lished in the town, viz. : the Haverhill Gazette, Essex Banner, Tri- Weekly 
Publisher, and Essex County Democrat, with an aggregate circulation of 
a little over four thousand copies per week. 

» Frum June, ISjj, to Miirch, 1857, Mr. Chase was editor and proprietor, o? the BrunstvicJc Tele- 
grai)h, a weekly paper, at Bnmswick, Maine. 



658 HISTORY OF HATEnniLl. 

DiTSTON Monument Association. — This Association, wliicli originatedf 
in tlie West Parish, was organized in Octolber, 1855, for the purpose of 
purchasing, enclosing, and improving the site of the house from which 
Hannah Duston was tahen by the Indians, in 1697, and erecting thereon 
a monument to her memory. Charles Corliss was chosen President, and 
George Coffin, Secretary. A deed of the supposed site of the house was 
secured Octoher 15, 1855, (Essex Keg. Book 520, p. 287). Soon after, 
(January 22 and 23, 1856,) a levee was held in the Town Hall, which 
realized the handsome sum of $523.39, for the Association. Among the 
articles on exhibition at the levee, were, the gun which Mrs. Duston took 
from the Indians at the time of her escape ; the scalping-knife said to have 
been used upon the occasion ; a tankard, presented to Mrs. Duston and 
Mrs. Neffe, by Gov. Nicholson, of Maryland ; a pair of tongs, and a plat- 
ter, formerly belonging to Mrs. Duston ; and the pocket-book of Thomas 
Duston. 

In March, 1856, the Association was incorporated, by special act of the 
Legislature. On the first day of June, 1861, a handsome monument, of 
Italian marble, five feet square and twenty-four feet high, resting upon a 
base of granite, was erected by the Association, at an expense of about 
$1,200. The tablets contain the following inscriptions: — 

^'Hannah, dau. of Michael and Hannah Emerson, wife of Thomas Dus- 
tin, born in this town Dec 23, 1657. Captured by the Indians March 15, 
1607, (at which time her babe, then but six days old, was barbarously 
murdered, by having its brains dashed out against a tree) and taken to an 
island in the Merrimack, at Pennacook, now Concord, N H. On the night 
of April 29, 1697, assisted by Mary Neff, and Samuel Lennardson, she 
killed ten of the twelve savages in the wigwam, and taking their scalps 
and her captor's gun, as trophies of her remarkable exploit, she embarked 
on the waters of the Merrimack, and after much suffering arrived at her 
home in safety. 

Thomas Dustin, on the memorable 15th of March, 1697, when his 
house was attacked and burned, and his wife captured, by the savages, 
heroically defended his seven children, & successfully covered their retreat 
to a garrison. 

Thomas Dustin, ^ Hannah Emerson, married Dec 3, 1677. Children : 
Hannah, born Aug 22, 1678; Elizabeth, born May 7, 1680; Mary, b 
Nov 4, 1781, died Oct 18, 1696 ; Thomas, born Jan 5, 1683 ; Nathaniel, 
born May 16, 1685; John, born Eeb 2, 1686, died Jan 28, 1690; Sarah, 
born July 4, 1688 ; Abigail, born Oct — 1690; Jonathan, born Jan 15, 
1691-2; Timothy, born Sept 14, 1694; Mehetable, born Sept 14, 1694, 



HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. G59 

died Dec 16, 1694; Martha, born March 9, 1696-7, died March 15, 
1696-7 ; Lydia, boru Oct 4, 1698."- 

Slavery in Haverhill. — That negroes were actually bought and sold, 
and thus distinctly recognized as property, in this town, is placed beyond 
a doubt by documentary evidence still in existence. Through the kind- 
iress of Wm. G. Brooks, Esq., of Boston, (a great-grandson of Eev. John 
Brown, of this town,) we have been furnished with the following, copied 
from the original papers, now in his possession : — 

" Know all Men by these Presents — that I Thomas Euss of Suncook 
in County of Middlesex and Province of Massachusetts Bay in New Eng- 
land, Cordwainer, do for and in consideration of the sum of One Hundred 
Pounds to me in hand paid by Benjamin Emerson of Haverhill in County 
of Essex and Pi-ovincc above mentioned — Husbandman, sell alicue convey 
and confirm unto him, the above Benj. Emerson his Heirs & Assigns — 
My Negro Boy named Cesur, being about seven years old, for and during 
his natural life — In witness whereof I the above named Thomas Euss 
have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of July 1739 and in 
the Thirteenth Year of the Eeign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second 
King of Great Britain. 

Signed, sealed and Delivered 

In presence of us Thos Euss. 

John Cogswell 
Joseph Atwood." 

" Haverhill June 16, 1740 
To all peopell to Home this shall Combe 

Know ye yt I Benjman Emmeson of Haverhill In ye County of Essex 
& province of ye Mashittusetts Bay In New England — yeoman — 

for & in Consideration of one Hundred pounds In Hand j^aid to me by 
Nathll Cogswell of Haverhill aford Trader do make over & sell con vay to 
Him my negrow Boy seser In all Eespts as fully & absolutely as He was 
Con veyed to me In ye face of this Bill of sale — furthermore I do warrant 
and defend Him from all parties what so ever to ye above Named Nathll 
Coggswcll, During his Natural life as witness my hand ye day and Year 
above written. 

witness, Benjamin Emerson. 

^ . Nath Woodman 

Jabez Emerson." 

<> We ought, in justice, to add, that, by a strange oversight on the part of the Monument Committee, 
the name in these inscriptions is spelled "Dustin," instead of " Diiston," by which name the Association 
was incorporated ; and also, that, througli the unwarrantable liberties taken by the engraver with the 
copy furnished him, the fii"st inscrijjtion given above is rendered positively unintelligible, except to one 
familiar with the fiicts it professes to record. The latter may yet be corrected, and we hope it wiU be 
'done. 



660 



HISTORY or HAVERHILL. 



" Haverliill Aug 23, 1742 
Know all men by ttese Presents that I Nathl Cogswell of Haverliill in 
ye County of Essex and Province of ye Massachusetts Bay in New Eng- 
land, Trader for and in consideration of One Hundred & fifteen Pounds to 
mc in hand paid Do make Over, Sell & Convey to Saml Phillips Jr of 
Andover, Trader, my Negro Boy Cesar mentioned above & in the Face 
of this Bill of Sale : this I do as Eully, Ereely and as absolutely as 
may be. 

Moreover I do Hereby Binde & Oblige myself to Warrant and Defend 
sd Negro from ye lawfull Claims & Demands of any person or Persons 
whatsoever to ye above Saml Phillips During sd Negro's life. 

As witness my Hand & Seal Nathl Cogswell. 
Witnessed by 

Nathaniel Walker 
Jonathan Buck." 



Population and Valuation of Haverhill. 



1764. 
1767. 
1790. 
1800. 
1810. 
1820. 



Population. Valuation. 

.1,920 

£4791.13.4 

.2,408 $15,194 11 

.2,730 22,350 50 

.2.682 32,941 16 

.3,070 37,540 45 



Population. Valuation. 

1830 3,912 $ 926,556 38 

1840 4,336 1,224,379 00 

1850 5,754 2,243,497 00 

1855 7,932 

1860 9,995 5,450,782 00 



Births, Marriages and Deaths, from 1845 to I860. 



Marriages. Deaths. 



1845. 
1846. 
1847. 
1848. 
1849. 
1850. 
1851, 
1852. 



.106 
.104 

.140 
. 90 
.138 
.182 
.190 



41. 
46. 
37. 
43. 
76. 
,135, 
83. 



aths. 




Births 


74 


1853... 


... 203 . 


58 


1854... 


...231. 


21 


1855... 


...202. 


20 


1856... 


...256 


61 


1857... 


...279 


94 


1858... 


...301 


99 


1859... 


...298 


107 


I860... 


...312 



Marriages. Deaths. 

..141 96 

..115 141 

..113 95 

..119... '..122 

..101 128 

..106 126 

..133 127 

..128 164 



* Taken from the State Registration Reports. 



HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 



661 



List of Members of Congress from Haverhill. 

1797 to 1801— Bailey Bartlett, 1826 to 1830— John Varnum, 
1811 to 1813 — Leonard White 1848 to 1852 — James H. Duncan. 

List of State Senators from Haverhill. 



1789— Bailey Bartlett, 

1810— Israel Bartlett, 

1811 — John Varnum, 

1816 to 1821— Israel Bartlett, 

1828 to 1831 — James H. Duncan, 

1833 — Gilman Parker, 



1844 and 1845— Alfred Kittredge, 
1848— Ezekiel J. M. Hale. 
1853 — Nathaniel S. Howe, 
1857 — Caleb D. Hunting, 
1860 — Christopher Tompkins. 



List of the Eepresentatives of Haverhill. 



1645 to 1654— Sohert Clement, 

1654 — John Clement, 

1655 to 1660— None, 

1660 — John Davis, 2d session, 

1661 to 1666— None, 

1666— Nathaniel Saltonstall, 

1667— Henry Palmer, 

1668— William Davis, 

1669 to 1672— Nath'l Saltonstall, 

1672 — George Brown, 

1673 — Humphrey Davy, 2d session, 

1674 — Henry Palmer, 

1675 — George Brown, 

1676 to 168 — Henry Palmer, 

1680 — George Brown, 

1681 — Daniel Hendrick, 

1682— None, 

1683— Peter Ayer, 

1684 — Eobert Swan, 

1685 to 1686— Peter Ayer, 

1687 to 1689— None, 

1689 to 1690— Peter Ayer, 

1691 — John Johnson, 

1 nqr, f George Brown, 

'' \ Samuel Hutchins, 
,pqo j Daniel Ladd, 
( Thomas Hart, 
1694— Daniel Ladd, 
1695 and 1696— Peter Ayer, 
1697— John Page, 
1698— Peter Ayer, 
1699— Pvichard Saltonstall, 
1700— John White, 
1701 — Samuel Ayer, 
1702— John W^hitc, 



1703 

1704 

1706 

1708- 

1709- 

1710 

1713- 

1714- 

1715 

1717- 

1718- 

1719- 

1720 

1726 

1728 

1730 

1733 

1735 

1737. 

173S 

1739 

1742 

1743- 

1744 

1746 

1749 

1751 

1752 

1754 

1755 

1761 

1769 

1771 



("John White, 1st session, 
( John Haseltine, 2d session, 
and 1705 — Samuel Watts, 
and 1707 — James Saunders, 
—John White, 
—James Saunders, 
to 1713 — John Haseltine, 
—John White, 
-John Haseltine, 
and 1716— John White, 
—Amos Singletary, 
—John Saunders, 
-John White, 
to 1726 — John Saunders, 
and 1727 — James Saunders, 
and 1729— Eichard Saltonstall 
to 1733 — Nathan Webster, 
and 1734 — William White, 
and 1736 — Eichard Saltonstall 

— Nathaniel Peasley, 

' — Eichard Saltonstall, 
to 1742 — Nathaniel Peasley, 

— Eichard Hazzen, 
—Eichard Saltonstall, 
and 1745 — Phillip Haseltine, 
to 1749 — Nathaniel Peasley, 
and 1750 — Nathaniel Saunders 

— John Haseltine, 
and 1753 — Nathaniel Peasley, 

— Eichard Saltonstall, 
to 1761 — David Marsh, 
to 1769 — Eichard Saltonstall, 
and 1770 — Samuel Bachellor, 
to 1776 — Jonathan Webster jr 



6G2 



HISTORY OF nAVERIIILL. 



List of Eepresentatives — Continued. 



1776 

1777 
1781 
1784 
1786 

1787 

1788 

1789 

1791 

1792 
1796 
1797 
1799 
1800 
1801 
1802 
1804 
1807 
1809 
1810 
1812 
1819 
1820 
1823 
1825 
182G 

1827 
1828 



1829 

1830 
1831 

1832 
1833 



Jona. "Webster, 

Nath'l P. Sargeant, 
to 1781 — Jonathan AYebstcr, 
to 1784— Bailey Bartlett, 
to 1785 — Samuel AVhite, 

— Nathaniel Marsh, 

— Isaac Osgood, 

f Bailey Bartlett, 

I Nathaniel Marsh, 

and 1790 — Nathaniel Marsh, 

f Francis Carr, 

I Samuel Blodgett, 

to 179G — Francis Carr, 

— None, 

and 1798 — Nathaniel Marsh, 

— Benjamin Willis, 

— Benjamin AYillis, 

— None, 

and 1803 — ^Francis Carr, 
to 1807 — David How, 
and 1808 — James Smiley, 

— Leonard AVhite 

and 1811 — Ebenezer Gage, 
to 1819— David How, 

— Charles AVhite, 

to 1823 — Aloses AVingate, 
and 1824 — Enoch Foot, 

— Stephen Minot, 

— None, 

f Moses AVingate 
I James H. Duncan, 
J Charles AVhite, 
I John Briclcctt,. jr., 

Thomas Harding, 

John Brickett, jr., 

AVilliam Bachcllor 

Thomas Harding, 

AVilliam Bachellor, 

John Brickett, jr., 

Caleb B. LeBosquet, 

Caleb B. LeBosquet, 

Thomas G. Farnsworth, 

Kphraim Corliss, 
\^ James Davis,, 
f AVilliam Bacheller, 

Caleb B. LeBosquet, 

George Keeley, 

Thomas G. Farnsworth, 



1834 



1835 



1836 



1837 



1838 



1839 



1840 



1841 

1842 

1843 
1845 

1846 

1847 
1848 
1849 

1850 

1851 

1852 

1853 
1854 



Ephraim Corliss, 
Thomas G. Farnsworth, 
Daniel P. McQuesten, 
\^ Nathan AA'ebster, 
( Jacob How, 
! Jesse Smith, 
j John G. AVhittier, 
(^ Jjeonard AA'hittier, 
[ James Davis, 
Elbridge G. Eaton, 
AVard Haselton, 
Nathan AVebster, 
[ Joseph Ayer, 
James Davis, 
Elbridge G. Eaton, 
AA^ard Hazeltine, 
\^ Nathan AVebster, 
( Charles Carleton, 
J AVilliam D. S. Chase, 
1 James H Duncan, 
[ Leonard AA^hittier, 
Charles Carleton, 
AVilliam D. S. Chase, 
James H. Duncan, 
Samuel Johnson, 
Jonathan Crowell, 
j Samuel Johnson, 
i Alfred Kitredge, 
1^ Iiobert Stuart, 
j Jonathan Crowell, 
I Alfred Kittredge, 
j Piev. James B. Cushing, 
I Caleb Herscy, 
and 1844 — None, 

— Hazen Morse, 
j Daniel F. Fitts, 
I James Hale, 

— None, 

— Benjamin Page, 

— None, 
Charles B. Hall, 
Lemuel Leonards, 

— None, 
Samuel Brainard, 
John B. Nichols, 
Samuel Brainard, 

I John B. Nichols, 

— None, 



niSTORY or HAVERHILL. G63 

List op Kepresentatives — Continued. 

■xQrr I Elbriclge W. Chase, iq^iq j '^^^^^s H. Duncan, 
I Jesse Simonds, \ Nathan S. Kimball, 

^ j2;-p j Truman M. Martjn, , nrn j Nathan S. Kimball, 

( William Taggart, \ James Eussell, 

1 QKry (Jesse Simonds, ior>n -i ^on^ ( Levi C. Wadleigh, 

1857 \ iv-iT rp , ISGOand 1861 \ ^ ,,. ^,, ^ ' 

( Vvilham lasgart, ( {:reorge VV. Chase. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 



Previous to soliciting subscriptions for this History of Haverkill, ^ 
Prospectus was issued, which contained the following j^roposition : 

" As ' cash in hand ' is no small advantage in purchasing material, and 
contracting for labor ; and as it is well worth an effort to avoid all chances 
for embarrassments by the neglect or failure of subscribers to comply with 
the terms ' cash on delivery,' we make the following proposition: — A 
list of the names of those who advance the price of the book, at the time 
of entering their subscription, shall be published in the book itself. It is 
hoped that such an ' honorable mention ' may be sufficient to insure a 
large proportion of advance payments." 

We now take pleasure in publishing the names of those who have respon- 
ded to our request, and to whom our thanks are due for their generous 
and timely aid : — ' . 

A. "W. Davis, . Geo. W. Day, 

Joseph Gubtal, Irah E. Chase, M. D., 

John A. Moody, Edward White, 

J. B. Swett, Edward White, jr., 

Charlotte H. Pettengill, Tristram Dalton White, 



Geo. Johnson, Esq., 
Hon. J. H. Duncan, 
Moses How, 
E. A. Porter, 
E. C. How, 
C. B. Emerson, 
Moses E. French, 
Stephen Chase, 
Eustis Chase, 
L. E. George, 
John P. Eandall, 
Ebenezer AVebster, 
Frank C. Swan, 
Geo. T. Brown, 



Walter S. Ordway, 
A. H. Adams, 
A. W. Chase, 
Walter Griffin, 
Calvin How, 
D. D. Flanders, 
Leverett W. Johnson, 
Laburton Johnson, 
Daniel Fitts, 



Francis J. Stevens,M.D. James Leach, 
Charles E. Heath, L. P. Shattuck, 

Charles C. Hills, James A. Bartlett, 

Charles J. Taggart, Geo. K. Chase, 

E. G. Frothiugham, Jr., E M. Ingalls, 



Daniel Palmer, 
John E. Gale, 
E. Stuart Chase, 
Charles W. Chase, 
Samuel Chase 
Alfred Kittredge, 
Geo. H. Hoyt, 
Geo. Cogswell, M. D., 
David P. Harmon, 
Walter Goodell, 
William B. Eaton, 
William Caldwell, 



Lucien George, 
Enoch Ordway, 
N. M. Edwards, 
Geo. 0. Harmon, 
Warren Ordway, 
C. W. Boynton, 
William Lucy, 
Bcnj. Kimball, 2d, 
Moses D. George, 
Geo. W. Ordway, 
J. G. S. Little, 
N. H. Farusworth, 



Mary Dalton White, 
Leonard Dalton White, 
John L. White, 

E. H. White, 

F. White, 
Abncr W. Pollard, 
Abijah W. Thayer, 
Fisher Howe, ' 
James How, 
Benjamin W. How, 
Mary T, Waldron, 
John W. Dean, 

Wm. 0. Haskell, 

Ann D. Bartlett, 

John Bartlett, 

Mrs. Wm. Jarvis, 
" Margaret Longlcy, 
" C. Meachaud, 

Edwin Bartlett, 

Eben'r Porter, 

Leverett Kimball, 

Hazen Morse, 

E. E. Stimpson, 

Benj. E. Sawyer, 

Sarah B. Putnam, 

Thos, G. Odiorne. 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Aboriginees of New England 30, 43 

Academy, The 496, 601, 602 

Acqueduct 471, 521 

Address to Prest Adams 465 

Almshouse 307. 494, (See Paupers) 

Audros, Usurpation of 148 

Anecdotes, &c., 54, 117. 161, 170, 200, 203, 206, 207, 

213, 219, 221, 223, 241, 254, 258, 264, 317, 3X8, 

445. 461, 555 
Anti-Slavery Society 503 
Artillery Company 373 
Assessors 64, 169, 472 
Atkinson, Sketch of 317 
Auditors of Accounts 474 
Ayer, Oapt. S.irauel, Death of 229 
Aycr's Village 537, 540, 54.5, 576 
Ayer's Pond, (See Plug Pond). 

Balloting 137, 141, 145 

Baptists 339, 432, 552, 570, 57g, 584 

Baptist Churches 584, 594, 611 

Baptist Hill 543 

Bartlett, Israel, Journal of 400 

Bells 67, 77, 172, 506, 551, 552, 594, 596 

Beer 50, 132 

Bees 67 

Biographical 40, 48 to 60, 108, 136, 254, 262, 274 

to 278, 316, 318, 553. 556, 557, 586, 590, 599, 

607, 612, 613, 615 to 651, 
Birth. 45, 55, 92, 660 
Blacksmiths 60, 76, 79, 88, 334, 634, 637 
Block-Houses 214 
Boston 45, 366, 369, 370, 380 
Bounds of Haverhill 43, 65, 70, 71, 74, 81. 91, 97, 

101, 121, 171, 244, 266. 286 to 301, 308, 310, 

563 
Boundary Dispute with N. H. 286, 310 
Bradley, Hannah, Captivity of, &c. 210, 216, 303 

" Joseph. " " 179 

Brandy Brow 82, 164, 283 
Bread, Weighers of 430, 437 
Brick-making 71, 500 
Briekkill Bridge 239 
Bridges 65, 111, 138, 303, 324, 457, 459, 479, 481, 

495, 500 
Buildings 453, 460, 490, .544 
Bunker Hill 388, 390. 623 630 
Burial-Grounds 91,209, 223, 303, 323, 545, 556, 

566, 570 
Buttonwoods. The 309 
By-Laws of Haverhill 475 

Canals 492, 510. 511, 622 

Captain's Pond 269 

Carding Machines, &c. 639 

Carriages 33.5, 336, 541 

Casualties 479 

Catterpillars 305, 332 

Cattle, &c. 59, 79. 82, 109, 256, 426, 477 

Cedar Swamp 244 

Cemeteries (See Burial-Grounds) G7, 91, Cl8, 545 

Census (See St.iti.stics) 

Centre Congregational Church 599 

Chain Ferry 325, 463, 570 



Christian Church 590 

Cholera 503 

Churches, Org>inization of 58, 60, 303, 306, 495, 

547. Membership in 115. Difficulties in 84, 

246, 547. Location of 544. History of 547 

to 614 
Chm-ch Services in Olden Time 177 
Cider 13i, 139, 149 
Clements, llobert. Estate of 49 
Clothing for Soldiers 407. 409, 417, 418, 423 
Coffee, Introduction of 258 
Colonie.s, Confederation of 28, 56 
Commerce of Haverhill 236, 450 
Committees of Correspondence, Safety, &c. 367, 

371, 372, 378, 380, 381, 393, 394, 399, 404, 405, 

410, 412, 413, 41.5, 420, 436 
Commons 59, 89, 92. 93, 115, 124, 135, 331, 4.54, 
507, 517, 521 

" Ox 71. 73, 82, 91, 92, 147, 303 

" Cow 89, 99, 137, 236, 253 254, 266, 273, 
332 
Commoners 75, 204. 21.5. 251. 253. 257. 266, 273 

286, 291, 294. 299, 303, 306, 332. 337 
Common Lands 204, 215 2"f0, 252, a53, 266 
Communion Vessels, &c. 53, 573 
Concord N. H., (See Pennacook) 
Constables 67, 68. 110, 114, 131, 145, 325, 434 
Continent.il Congress 379 
Cottages, Lists of 93 
Cottle's Ferrv 116, 325, 463, 491 
Cotton Mill 6+0 
Council of Safety 150 
Counties. Division into 55 
C.rantry Bridge 99. 141, 498. 578 
Criminal 58, 78, 80, 90. 100, 116, 122, 131, 138, 

139, 145 
Creek Pond 483, 540. 
Creek Brook 570 
Creek Bridge 482. 

Currency 72, 78, 253, 280, 411, 434. 437 
Customs, &£. 66, 67, 77, 113, 177, 336 

Darby Hill 82 

Dark Days 247, 434 

Deacons 249 (See Eccl. Hist. 547) 

Deaths 45, 55, 82, 90, 92, 133, 479. 496, 497, 502, 

660 
Debt of the Town 207, 464 
Deed of Pentucket 46 
Distilleries 309. 374. 375, 426, 453, 500 
Dogs 58. 502, 521, 524 
Droughts, &c. 56, 98, 332, 337, 338, 492 
Duck i'actory 444, 449, 489, 622 
Duston, Hannah, Exploit of 185. Monument to 

191, 196, 653 

Earthqu.akes 56, 280. 337 

East Parish 305, 320, 324, 387, 577 

" Meadow 99. 

•' Meadow River 116, 164, 170, 268, 323 
Eastman's Wharf 333 
Elections 68, 78, 80. 141. 151 
Embargo, The 481, 484 
Epitaphs 228, 245, 555 



Essex County 55, 133, 278, 435, 496, 520 
Expresses 510 

Fasts 127 332 337 

Ferries 08, 83, 87, 99. 110, 131,217, 236, 238, 248, 
265, 309, 325, 338, 447, 454, 458, 463, 490 

Fines 64, 70, 78, 79, 80, 83, 100, 107, 111, 114, 133, 
138, 149, 429, 435 

Fire Department 427, 429, 436, 514, 522 

Fires 115, 206, 303, 323, 386, 463, 514 

First birth in Haverhill 45; death 45, 82; 
corn-mill 49, 57 ; tanner 49, 57 ; land 
ploughed 50; pauper 116; town meet.- 
ing 55; town clerk 55; court 55; mar- 
riage 58 ; blacksmith 60 ; selectmen 03 ; mili- 
tary company 66, 95 ; bees 67 ; constable 07, 
68 ; meeting-house 67, 100 ; highway 68 ; 
orchard 70; brick-maker 71 ; tailor 79; deed 
recorded 89; physician 40, 97; plan of the 
town 104 ; moderator 107 ; murder by In- 
dians 124; evening lectures 134; written bal- 
lots 137 ; merchant 137; potatoes 250; team 
to Peunacook 278 ; coin in Mass. 78; paptr 
money 280; overseers of poor .303 ; wagon 336; 
highway tax 336; potash works 338; salt- 
petre works 393; butcher 417; election of 
governor 423 ; fire company 427 ; fire engine 
429 ; salt works 430 ; stage coach 453 ; school 
committee 441 ; school regulations 455 ; news- 
paper 459; bridge 459; assessors 64, 472; 
list of voters 473 ; Fourth of July celebration 
47.3, 474; hay scales 473; cotton yarn 474; 
cut nails 474; town by-laws 475; inspectors 
of police 479 ; cooking stoves 484; singing- 
school 484 ; town clock 494 ; temperance soci- 
ety 498 ; steamboat 500 ; lyoeum 501 ; anti- 
slavery society 505 ; turned shoes 535 ; bank 
in town 633 ; bookbinder 653 ; newspaper 652 ; 

First Parish, The 325, 550 

Fisheries 58, 81, 87, 118, 145, 245, 265, 206, 432, 
472, 482, 483 

Fishing River 71, 137, 140, 146, 195, 196, 207, 236, 
245, 266, 283, 496 

Flaggy meadow 143 

Flannel factory 506 

Floating islands 461 

Forts 394 

Fourth of July '39.5,473, 474, 494, 505, 511, 515, 
517, 523, 525 

Free Evangelical Church 613 

Freemasons 473, 653 

Freemen 72, 115, 141 

French War. The 340 

Free Will Baptist Church 612 

Freshets 309, 492 

Garrisons, &c. 153, 155, 170, 187, 198, £00, 207, 2G1 

Gas Company .523 

Genealogical 48.51, 53, 62, 73, 74, 79, 125, 131, 184 

216. 248, 274 to 278, 582, 615 
Golden Hill 479, 632 
Gravel Shoot 578 
Great Plain 110, 146, 164 
Great Pond 110, 37, 171. 236, 237, 430, 432, 463, 

48.3, 496, 510. 511, 528 
Griffin's Feri-y 217, 325 

Hampstead, Sketch of 315 

Hardy's Landing 266 

Harvard College 40, .54, 58, 78, 108, 1.33, 136, 274, 
318. 390, 55.3, 556, 557, 564, 668, 580 

Hats, Maiinfacturo of, &e. 539 

Haverhill, Settlement of 35 ; deed of 46 incorpora- 
tion of 60; description of in 1645, 60; ditto 
in 1794, 460 to 463 ; Peke of 288, 298 ; plan of 
104, 462; histories of 501; maps of 502; 
growth of 542. 



Haverhill Bridge 156, 459, 480, 495, 509, 543 

Hawk's Brook 273. 
" Meadow 63 

Hay 44 

Hay-Scales 473, 521 

Haynes Joseph, Journey of 338 

Herdsmen 79, 1C9 

High School 497, 514, 524 

Highways 65, 08, 75, 76, 87, 92, 98, 99, 106, 110, 
115, 141, 143, 244, 265, 270, 278, 306, 324, 336, 
458, 484, 493, 494, 495, 507, 509, 522, 523, 525, 
526, 531 

Highwavs, Surveyors of 244, 523 

Hog Hill 239, 252. 253, 268 

Householders in 1798, 466 

Houses 93 95, 115, 156 

Huckleberry Hill 292 

Indians 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 30, 42, 45, 66, 70, 78, 96, 
116,139,2.50, 260, 315; depredations by 116y 
123 148, 1.53, 158, 159, 100, 169, 179, 184, 185, 
199, 201, 206, 209, 216, 217, 260 ; relics of 42 ; 
Kcv. John Elliott's labors among 96 ; number 
in Pen tucket 43 ; deeds from 43, 143, 297 

Indian Hill 43 

Bridge 71 

Influenza 495 

Inspectors of Police 479 

Insureotion of Morrill 158 

Inventories 49 

Ipswich Fright 387 

Irish, The 288, 291 

Islands "0, 79. 87, 254. 304, 461 

Island Pond 295, 304 

Johnson's Creek 201 

" Mill 171, 483 
Jurymen 473, 494 

Kenoza Lake 82. 387, 48.3, 528 to 530 
King Phillip's War 123 

Land (See Commons, Ac) 61, 68, 87, 92, 165, 204 
215 ; divisions of, Ac, 56, 61, 62, 71, 74, 76, 79 
87, 89, 93, 106. 254, 256, 290, .324. 333 ; dis- 
putes, &o., 143, 169. 204, 266 to 274, 286 to 
301, 303, 507; parsonage 1.3.5, 1.3a 137, 140, 
143, 163. 234, 244, 251, 264, 303, 304, 306, 323, 
.324,3.39, 432, 558, 5.'9, 562. 566, 586; pur- 
chases, grants, &c.. 55, 65, 67, 68, 70, 71, 7.3, 
76, 82, 89, 90, 91, 135 143, 171, 204, 253, 267, 
308, 433, 496, 507 

Leather 130, 208. 5.32 

Lecture-d.ay 89, 134 

Lectures, Evening 134 

Letters from Gyles Firman 35; Samuel Ayer 150, 
200; Natlin Saltonstall 150, 158, 213, 283; 
Daniel Bradley, 153; Rev. Bcnj. Kolfe 162, 
167 ; Rev. John Ward 105 ; Thomas Duston 
191; Rev. Joshu"- Gardner 234; Ebenezer 
Eastm.an 254; Richard Hazzen 294, 209; John 
Whittier395; James Brickett 403, 438 ; Pres- 
ident Adams 405 

Lexington Alarm 383, 387, 497 

Libraries 501 

.Light Infantry Company 482, 485 

Lime S3, 95, 256 

Little River 42, 52,^6, 71, 81, 88 99, 103, 111,116, 
U9, 1.35, 188, 195, 207, 21.5, 229, 236, 306, 324, 
32.5, 338, 438, 44.5, 463, 480. 492. 511, 691 

Little River Bridge 434, ,509, 525, 543 

Londonderry 249, 286 to 301 

Long Hill 224 

Lovewell's Fight 201 

Lumber 121, 132 

Lyceums 501 



Ill 



Magistrates 55, 65, 70, 115 

Marriages 55, 53, 92, 107, 117, 643, 660 

Marsh's Hill 155,633 

MasoQian Claim 301 

Masonic Hall 491, 601 

" Lodsre 473 
Massachusetts, Discovery of 18 ; description of in 
1614,21; settlement of 27 ; ohirter of 148, 
151,164; boundary dispute with N. H. 286; 
constitution of 393, 406, 412, 420, 441, 494 
Meadows 74, 79, 87, 92, 164, 251, 269, 303 
Meeting-Houses 67, 83, 89, HO, 124, 135, 136, 137, 
171, 208, 223, 253. 282, 306, 454, 460, 495, 507, 
544,547 to 614; seating inhabitants in 99, 
106, 140, 206, 253; seats and pews in 118, 135, 
174, 176, 232, 233, 252, 265 ; disorderly boys 
in 233 

Merchants 451 

Merrie's Creek 62, 91, 132, 245 

Merrimack River 287 ; discovery of 20 ; significa- 
tion of the name 20; improvements in 492, 
519 

Merrimack Bridge 93, 99, 463, 480 495, 500 

Methodists 570, 573 

Methodist Church 601 

Methuen, Incorporation of 273 

Middle Names 360 

Military Companies, &c. (See Soldiers) Q\ 95, 99, 
lOS, 112, 346 to 350, 373, 375, 332, 447, 482, 
484, 485 

Mill Brook 57, 92, 111, 161, 164, 215, 253, 303, 307, 
309, 332, 333, 430, 455, 494 

Mill Bridge 333 

Mills 92, 99, 236, 337, 426, 430, 452, 433, 506, 510; 
saw 75, 80, 83. 89, 99, 116, 132, 164, 2:^, 268, 
269; corn 57, 91, 99, 111, 116, 132, 140, 170, 
105, 196, 215, 253; flannel 508; fulling 215, 
253; plaster 215; cotton yarn 474 

Millerism 511, 604 

Minute Men 381 

Ministers 83, 134, 139, 154, 162, 105, 231, 245, 247, 
273, 279 

Missionaries 642 

Mitchell's Falls 579 

Mobs 376, 505 

Moderator 107 

Morse, J(5seph, Death of 502 

Mount Washington 533 
" Pleasant 545 

Mullikin's Ferry 355, 458 

Music, &c. 309, 424, 552, 569, 588, 596 

Names, Lists of, first settlers of Haverhill 38; 
landholders in 1645, 60; freemen in 1650, 72 ; 
in id division plough-land 77 ; Robert Pike's 
petition 80; agreement with John Johnson 88 i 
4th division meadow land 92 ; accommodation 
land 106 ; on location meeting-house 173 ; of 
killed by Indians 193 ; for land in Methuen 
252; pew owners 232, 238, 265; school peti- 
tions 237 ; soldiers 128, 235, 331, 340 to 36t, 
382, 383, 388 to 420, 440, 486, 487 ; 5th divi- 
sion land 256 ; settlers of Concord 274 ; peti- 
tions to worship in Amesbury 279 ; polls north 
and south of the N. H. line in 1741,310 to 
315 ; petitioners for East Parish 321 ; and 
occupations in 1747, 326 ; about town meetings 
327, 328 ; grantees of townships in Me. 338, 
433; artillery company 374; minute men 382; 
of whom money was borrowed 407, 414 ; mem- 
bers of Fire Cub 428 ; householders in 1798, 
466; streets 509; disunion petitioners 516; 
shoe manufacturers 53.'), 536 ; brick blocks 
544; members Rev. Ward's church 548; re- 
presentatives, Ac. 661 

Nebraska Resolutions 523 



Negroes (See Slaves) 239, 498 
Newspapers 459, 521, 652 
North Church 612 

Meadow 99, 283 
" Parish 282, 303, 306, 562 
Northmen, Voyages of the 17 

Oath of Fidelity 71, 72, 115 

Odd Fellows 518 

Officers (Town) 55, 99, 107, 121, 164, 163, 171, 205, 

433, 435, 474, 526 
Old Style and New Style 334 
Orchards 70, 195 
Ordinaries, See Taverns 
Overseers of the Poor 303, 433, 472 

Paper Money (See Currency) 280, 411, 434. 437 
Parsonage Land, See Land 
Hill 566 

Houses 135, 136, 137, 140, 143, 233, 279, 547 
Road 153, 179, 224 
Paupers 52, 116, 143, 307, 441, 455, 480, 494, 506 
Pecker's Hill 74, 155, 170, 188, 198, 543, 545 
Pennacook 30, 90, 255, 274 
Pen tucket. See Haverhill 

Cemetery 42, 67 91, 156, 519 
Pes (.-Houses 334, 433, 458 
Peter's Ridge 498 

Petitions 230, 254, 279, 289, 299, 308, 320, 326, 515 
Physicians 40, 97, 179, 275, 637, 646, 649 
Pilgrims, The 25 
Pipe Staves 59, 63, 107, 120, 236 
Plains 73 
Plain Gate 332 
Plaistow 317 
Plough-land 74, 76 

Plug Pond 57, 229, 324^ 462, 463, 571 
Plymouth 21, 26 

Poetry 61, 186, 293, 307, 388, 392, 440, 491, 498 
Police Court 524 
Policy Pond 319 
Pond Bridge 236 

" Meadow 63, 67, 76, 161 
" Plain 169 
" River 119 
Ponds 269, 295, 319, 337, 430, 455, 461, 463 
Post-riders, &c. 453 
Potash Works 338, 452 
Potatoes 250 

Pounds 69, 98, 203, 432, 464 
Powder-houses 116, 427, 479 
President Washington's Visit 441 
" Jackson's " 503 

Prices 49, 50, 64, 68, 76, 87, 118, 132, 138, 235, 304, 

306, 413, 434 
Primrose Swamp 62, 63 
Printing business 652 
Proprietors, (See Commoners) 
Providence Neck 269 
Provincial Congress 378, 386 
Puritans, History of, 23 

Quakers 51, 87, 176, 207, 553 

Railroads 493, 504, 521, 537 

Randall Church 613 

Rechabites 513 

Representatives 115, 335, 366, 368, 399, 435, 436, 

457, 661 
Revolution, The 362 
Rocks' Village 50' 236, 243, 450, 480, 491, 493, 500, 

505, ,523, 544 
Rolfe, Rev. Benj., Death of, 219 
Round Pond 89, 430, 463, 471, 521 
Rum 261, 338. See Distilleries. 



IV 



Salaries 63, 77, 84, 86, 110, 111, 113, 116, 136, 165, 

208, 231, 246, 248, 279, 526, 547 to 614 
St. Greaurv's Church 607 
Salem, N. H. 319 
Sander's Hill 98, 207, 324 
SaltonstiiU place 168, 233, 309, 445, 543 
Saltpetre Manufacture 393 
Salt Works 430 
Savings Bank 501, 633 
Saw-Mill Biver 138, 146, 164, 196, 253, 306 
Sawyer, John, Death of 436 

Schools 65, 91, 113, 114, 116, 135, 142, 171, 177, 205, 
206, 208, 209, 216, 236, 237, 239, 265, 273, 274, 
302, 325, 331, 334, 337, 432, 441, 455, 457, 464, 
472, 490, 496, 497, 501, 513, 522, 524, 569, 578, 
608 
Scotland Hill 540 
Selectmen 03, 64, 80, 100, 109, 111, 114, 121, 133, 

141, 433, 472 
Shad Parish 498 
Shatswell's Bond 389 
Shay's Rebellion 437 
Sheep 79, 146, 426, 521 
Shenstones, The 519, 526 

Ship-huildin? 304, 324, 333, 426, 448, 450, 483, 490 
Shoes 69, 111, 130, 219, 530, 532, 632 
Silver Hill 432, 543 
Slaves 239, 248, 427, 659 
Small Box 131, 159, 334, 433, 453, 458, 522 
Soldiers 66, 128, 149, 158, 162, 213, 217, 235, 261, 

264, 340 to 361, 382 to 420, 440, 479, 484, 512 
Sour Meadow 269 
Spicket Falls 254 
" Meadow 03 
" Path 60, 141, 195 
" Biver 02, 71, 88, 97, 143 
Stage Coaches 453, 461, 474, 483, 493, 505 
Stamp Act, The 362 
Statistics 240, 242, 335, 426, 507, 660 
Steamboats 500, 519 
Stocks 69, 436 
Storms, &c 45, 57, 59, 118, 247, 280, 310, 431, 432, 

434, 436, 473, 482, 491, 492, 496, 551 
Stoves 483, 358, 596 
Streets 526, (See Highways) 
Surplus Bevenue 508, 517 
Swett's Ferry 236, 325, 463 
Swine 426, 555 

Tabernacle Church 606 

Tanners 49,57, 121, 139, 142, 324, 495 



Taverns 50, 52, 64, 74, 131, 1S9, 283, 443, 444, 473, 
474 

Taxes, &c. 57, 77, 86, 87, 99, 111, 112, 130, 149, 237, 
253, 279, S25, 409, 415, 417, 420, 423, 434, 455, 
481, 482, 493 494, 553 

Tea 258, 369, 372 

Temperance 498, 506, 515, 517, 518 

Thanksgiving 112, 332 

Throat Distemper 306, 464 

Timber 56, 59, 63, 68, 75, 107, 120, 236, 296, 364 

Tories 370, 646 

Tornado 431 

Town Farm 494 

" Hall 176, 500, 520, 526, 539, 611 

" Meetings 55, 64, 70, 98, 114, 130, 142, 164, 

270, 226 to 331, 423, 521, 523, 559 
" Eecords 98, 110, 114, 117, 199, 245, 257, 521 

Trinity Church 608 

Turkey Hill 577 

Tything-Men 168 

Unitarians 559 

Universalists 560, 570, 571, 573, 576 

Uiiiversalibt Society 595^ 

Upper Bands 455 

Valuations 64, 72, 426, 453,466 
Voting 89, 115, 482, (See Balloting) 

Wagons, &c. 336 

■Warning out ot Town 279 

Washington 441, 471 

Watch-ilouses 69, 113, 156, 177, 205, 256, 261 

West Bridge 111, 138, 104, 215, 494 

" Parish 305, 306, 665, 601 

" Biver, (See Little River) 
Wharfs 303, 332, 333, 426 
Whipping-Post 69, 436 
Whittakcr, Joseph 179, 201 
Wigwam 71 
Wild-man 496 

Wine, &c. 64-, 83, 131, 132, 256 
Winter Street Church 600, 601 
Witchcraft 109 
Wood 95, 110, 137, 166 
Wolves 59, 96, 98, 147, 171, 248 • 

Work-House 441, 481, 506 
World's End Pond 199 

Yankee boodle 392. 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



Abbot, Rev. Abie] 230, 429, 466, 
471, 557, 558, 559 
Aliiifail 466 
Daniel 416 
Geor?e 97 
Mr. 454 
John 557 
Abell, Rev. T. P. 5D8 
Abercrombie 344 
Adams, Daniel 399, 409, 470 
James 311 

John 390, 461, 465, 618 
John Q. 516, 517, 650 
Rev. Mr. 336 
Rev. Phineas 568, 569, 
570, 572, 581 
_ Samuel 220, 365, 369 
Agassiz, Louis 282 
Aiken, Samuel 652 
Allen, Ethan 344 

Richard 128 
W. B. & H. Or. 653 
William 615 
Alley, Mrs. 386 

John 389, 393, 399 
Ames, Ezra C. 600 

Isaac 513, 519 
Moses 344, 350 
Samuel 464 
Amherst, Gen. 344, 3.52 
Amy, Michael 340, 34 <, 355 
Anderson, Samuel 311 
Andrew (Indian) 125 
Andres, Sir Edmund 148 
Annis, Abraham 310 

Samuel 359, 360 
Appleton, Daniel 326, 327, 346, 
350, 355, 374, 414, 419, 
428, 429, 466, 487, 539, 
541, .553 
Hannah 470 
Samuel 159, 312, 327, 330, 

348, 371, 393, 428, 539 
William 407, 408 
Ash, Nathaniel 359 

Phinahas 359 
Assacambuit (Indian) 224 
Asten, Abiel 262 
Atkinson, Theodore 317 
Attucks, Crispus 396 
Atwood, James 348, 429. 533 
John 311, 429, 487 
Joseph 348, 358, 466, 659 
Moses 429, 460, 466, 533, 

641 
William 352, 357, 358 
Austin, Thomas 237 
Zebediah 262 
Auchmaty, Robert 294 
Averill, Isaac 486 
Ayer, Aires, or Eyres, 
Benjamin 73 



Ayer, David 312, 327, 348, 440 
Elnnezer 73, 262, 264 
Edward 615 
Edwin F. 540 
Frederick S. 486 
George W. 591, 592 
Gibberd 216 
Goodman 98 
Hannah 174 
Jacob 314, 327, 330, 346, 

428 
James 53, 156, 235, 267, 

275, 292, 312, 333, 384, 

400, 407, 466, 549, 615 
John, Sen., 60, 64, 77, 256 

312, 330 
John 72, 73, 80, 93, 106, 

156, 229, 256, 274, 275, 

346, 367, 380, 395, 407, 
466, 540, 541, 615 

John, Jur., 60, 72, 77, 94, 

138, 155 
John A. 466 
Jonathan 73, 417, 466 
Joseph 174, 192, 197, 396, 

399, 615 
Josiah 216 
Monroe 545 
Moses 345, 419, 460 
Lott 411 
Nathan 346, 382, 383, "88 

391, 393, 395, 400, 419, 

466, 471 
Nathaniel 73, 256. 615 
Obadiah 73, 236, 238, 256, 

274, 275, 293, 419, 466, 

615 
Oldgood 106 
Perley 419, 540, 541 
Peter 52, 72, 73, 80, 114, 

124, 138, 139, 151, 157, 

164, 166, 169, 173, 192, 

204, 256, 314, 327, 330, 

347, 348, 466, 565, 568, 
615, 661 

Robert 52, 72, 73, 77, 80, 
142, 164, 166, 174, 256, 
615 

Richard 241, 275, 349, 371 
372, 381, 393 

Samuel 73, 94, 128, 138, 
150, 164, 171, 173, 174, 
176, 179, 200, 204, 207, 
208, 215, 224, 225, 226, 
228, 235, 274, 275, 278, 
302, 312, 327, 342, 343, 

348, 349, 385, 399, 410, 
417, 418, 466, 548, 615, 
661 

Samuel W. 70, 484, 570 
Simeon 314, 327, 3.30, 345, 
346, 349, 410, 466 



Ayer, Thomas 52, 62, 12, 13. ??< 
94, 138, 155, 216, 225, 
615 
Timothy 138, £74, 312, 401 
Widow 94 
Widow Sarah 408 
■ William 262, 312, 314, 
328, 349, 396, 567 
& Brothers 540 

Bacon, Rev. Henry 598 
Badgir, Benjamin 616 
Daniel 616 
Ebenezer 616 
Enoch 347, 616 
Giles 615 
James 615, 616 
John 615 
Joseph 301, 312, 318, 327, 

330, 346, 350, 556, 615, 

616, 617, 626, 644 ' 

Rev. Moses 374, 378, 608, 

609, 616, 645 
Nathaniel 347, 616 
Peaslee 616 
Samuel 616 
Stephen 616 
Thomas 616 
William 618 
Baehelder, Batchelder, 
Benjamin 353 
Rev. Samuel 241, 242, 306 

349, 351, 366, 368, 565, 

566, 567, 568, 661 
Rev. William 371, 381, 

4C4, 429, 467, 470, 488, 

587, 6G2 
Bagley, Col. 354 

Jonathan 346 
Philip 382, 383, 392, 393 
Stephen 594 
Winthrop 330 
Bailey, (See Bayley.) 
Rev. Abner"319 
Benjamin 467 
George F. 516 
Henry 351 
Rev. Jacob 609 
John 275, 356, 395 
Jonathan, 467 
Joshua 263, 26G, 270, 271, 

274, 275, 278, 305, 309, 

312, 321, 32.3, 330, 333 
Lewis 541 
Nathan 4C6, 467 
Nathaniel 356, 358, 466 
Noah 416 
Phillip 388 
Wood bridge 467 
Baker, Benjamin 348, 400, 407, 

408. 418, 419 
Capt 264 



VI 



Baker, Edmund 397, 40S 
Edwiird 408, 414 
John 347, 350, 3u4, 400, 

407, 419 
Jonathan 418 
Mary 408 
Moses i;76 
Nathan 342, 344, 345, 

347, 356, 358 
Richard 416 
Samuel 396 

"William 393, 396, 397, 
418, 497, 498 
Ballon, Ilosea 595, 596 
Bulch, Deacon 533, 534 

Nathaniel 327, 330, 347 
Westly 471, 533 
Baldwin, Laorai 492 

Thomas 628 
Bannister, William B. 490, 633 
Ballard, Ebenezer 384, 303, 397, 

410, 4G6 
Ball, Thomas 516 
Banks, N. P. 521, 524 
Barber, Samuel 411 
Barefoot, AValter 143 
Barker. Jonathan 358, 374, 893 
Stephen 244, 251, 252, 273 

470 
Zebadiah 407, 408 
Barnard, Rev. Edward 244, 247, 
551, 554, 555, 557, 559 
Edward 374, 375 
Rev. Jolm 553 
Rev. Mr. 316, 328 
Rev. Thomas 246, 553 
Barrows, Rev. Homer 365 
Bartlett, Bailey 88, 374, 415, 
42S, 430, 436, 440, 444, 
4(;!l, 464, 466, 467, 472, 
473, 474, 4S6, 489, 494, 
618, 619, 620, 621, 633, 
661, 662 
Charles 317, 621 
Christopher 164, 208, 235, 
243, 209, 270, 271, 30.3, 
311, 314, S96 
Enoch 243, 333, 338, 346, 
347, 404, 427, 428, 466, 
621, 635 
Francis 470 
George 621 
Henry 621 
Isaac 393, 620 
Israel 374, 375, 393, 395, 
400, 407, 414, 415, 420, 
428, 4<0, 447, 461, 466, 
C21, 661 
James 429, 621 
John 400, 461, 620 
Jonathan 314 
Joseph 226 
Josiah 621 

Nathaniel 311, 314, 470 
Nehemiah 621 
Richard 132, 138, 620 
Sanmel 281. 429, 620 
Thomas 620, 021 
Eayse, Mathew 43 
Bayley, or BaU-y (See Bailey) 

Amos 314, 329, 348, 417, 

418, 419, 420 
Benjcr 418 

Ebenezcr 314, 329, 348, 
355, 417, 418, 419, 420 



Bayley, Humphrey 315, 349 

Jeremiah 315, 329, 349, 
418, 419 

Joseph 341 

Joshua 550, 618, 635 

Luas 410, 42u 

Orlando 28S 

Richard 328, 348, 419 

Thomas 314, 329 

"William 314, 328 
Beartoe, Joseph 311, 314 
Bean, Samuel 453 
Beard, William 416 
Belfore, Thomas 80 
Belknap, Abraham 143, 

Ebcnezer 312 

Moses 312 

Obadiah 312, 349 

Samuel 94 
Bell, John 628 
Benson, Henry 353 
Bernard, Sarah 466 
Berry, Judge 328 

John 382, 383, 408, 411 
Betle, Timothy 397, 411 
Bixbee Nathaniel 354 
Black, Benjamin 343, 345 

Edmund 342, 344, 345, 
347, 351, 356, 358 

James 312 

Peter (Negro) 498 
Blanchard, Samuel 470, 480 
Blaisdel Jonathan 343, 351 
BIy, or Bley, James 314 

William 279 
Blodgett & Head, 5.37 

Judge 4.54 

J. i). 537 

Nath.an 375 

Samuel 333, 338, 363, 391, 
428, 444, 449, 458, 466, 
021, 622, 602 
Bodge, Nathaniel 384, 395 
BodwcH, Bethiah '^^2 

Daniel 252, 271 

Henry 237, 244, 251, 252 

James 252 

Michael 347 
Bodfish, D. P. 657 
Bond, Gilbert 408 

John 693 ' 

Joseph 128, 1.55, 174, 208, 
233, 312 
Borman, William 315, 349 
Bowdoin, Jno. 423 
Bowden. Michael ;!,->0, 755 
Bowcn, Rev. William .595 
Bosworth, Hantiiel 122 i 
Boyd, Arter, 311 
Eoyea, Robert 298 
Boynton, or Bventon, Abiel 396 

John 312, .",26, 330, 347 

O. G. 516, 601 
Boutwell, Geo, S. 325 
Brackett, Anthony 126 
Bradford, Mr. 436 
Bradley, or Bradlee 

Abrahsm 235, 263 

Amos 34 8 

Benjamin 467 

Brickett 571 

Cyrus 576 

Daniel 136, 141,149, L53 
163, 198, 312, 348, 351, 
417, 467 



Bradley, David 69, 348, 417, 418, 
420, 430, 467 

Enoch467, 470, 482, 569 

Francis 466 

Hannah 308, 309 

& Hersey 536 

Ithamore 419 

Isaac 179, 268, 312, 347, 
467, 623 

Jesse 396 

John 275, 311, 314, 345, 
349, 354,356, 359 

Jonathan 311, 418 

Joseph 153, 156, 160, 179, 
198, 200, 210, 216, 224, 
235, 314, 329, 412, 466, 
470 

Mary 418 

Mehitable 466, 470 

Moses 348, 351 

Nathaniel 348, 380, 435, 
466, 473 

Neamiah 314, 329, 348 

Samuel 348, 389, 466, 470, 
636 

William 312, 348, 418, 420 

Wingate 389, 410 
Bradbury, Barnabas S12 

Daniel 470, 512 

David 470 

Eben 408 

James 279, 312, 321, 396 

John 313 

Samuel 349, 385, 418, 466 

Sanders 345, 349 

William 385 
Brady, William 3.30 
Bragg, S. 459, 652 
Bradstreet, Dr. 179 
Brainard, Samuel 662 
Brant, Robert 410 
Brattle, Rev. 240 
Brentman, Thomas 349 
Brewer, Peter 52, 04 
Brewster, H. B. 655 
Bryant, or Briant, 

Andrew ,312 

David 389, 429 

James 353 

Matthew 353 

William 347, 469 
Bridge, Col. 390 
Briggs, Henry 486 
Brickett, Barnard 467, 599, 600 

Daniel 429, 406, 510 

James 275, 360, 374, 380, 
381, 383, 386, 389, 390, 
391, 392, 394, 399, 400, 
402, 403, 404, 405, 410, 
412, 413, 414, 415, 4-19, 
420, 421, 422, 428, 438, 
440, 447, 455, 466, 471, 
556, 623, 624, 626, 644 

John 408, 467, 662 

Moses 429, 440 . 

Ward 537 

& Novcs 536 
Brooks, Cotton B. 429, 466 

Erastus 506, 656 

Rev. Edward 248 

W. G. 639 
Browing, John 416 
Brown, or Browne, 

Rev. A. 595 

Cotton 248 



vu 



\ Brown, David 407 
\ Ebenezer 314, 331, 345 i1 

Edmund 3S5, 435, 466 
■ Epbraim 407, 408 
George 48, 62, 72, 75, 77, 
80, 88, 93, 94, 99, 106, 
110, 112, 128, 134,' 137, 
139, 143, 144, 164, 172, 
173, 256,601, 
H. 323 ■• '" " 
Henry Young 336, 359, 

360, 624 
Jacob 359, 360 
Rev. John 241, 248, 261, 
279, 307, 547, 549, 550, 
551, 553, 659 
John 406, 470, 552, 593 
Joseph 341 
Josiah 349, 383, 537 
Nicholas 94, 153 
Kev. Richard 231 
Samuel 312, 314 
Simeiin 331 
Thomas 248 
Rev. W. C. 610 
Ward 248 
William 344 
Brnmidse, Edward 53, 143, 156, 

230 
Buck, Ebenezer 312, 327 

Eliplialet 397, 398, 470 

Jacob 411 

John 341 

Jonathan 312, 333, 338, 

348, 354, 428, 660 
Samuel 39;'., 397, 410 
Bugbee, Rev. J. II. 361 
Burden, Rev. John 505 
Bnrgtn, William 537"^' 
Burgoyne, Gen. 401, 621, 624, 

630, 041 
Burgess, Rev. J. S. 613 
Buroeaux, Fortune 390, 397, 411 
Burnham, Rev. Abraham 583 

Eenjaniin 396 
Burrill & ilersev 633, 654 
John 342," 343, 345 
Joseph 323, 400, 470 
Nathan 486, 653, 654 
& Tilcston 653 
Burr, Aaron 019 

Samuel S. 637 
Buswell, or Buzzel, Benj. 536 
Capt. 158 
Daniel 391 
Butler, William CO, 72, 106 
Eutman, Thomas 317 
Butters, Francis 510 
Francis, Jr. 516 
Otis W. 316 
Button, Daniel 115 

Hannah 122 ^ ') 

Matthias 72, 77, 93, 96, 
113, 230 
Cahany, Nathaniel 382 
Calf, or Calfe, James 347 

Isaac 347 
Caldwell, or Cord well, 
' Enoch 384, 4(V) 
Jacob 333, 030 
& Pierce •335 
William 491 
Callis, AVilliam 311 
Camball, Elexander 313 
Campbell, Samuel 417 



Candace (Negro) 241 
Cannada, Robert 353 

Thomas 353 
Capron, John 593 
Carleton, Aaron 413, 414, 415, 
. 418, 419, 420, 407 
Benjamin 274, 275 
Charles 062 
Christopher 274, 275 
Daniel 407 
Deacon 224 
Ebenezer 333, 389 
Edward 65, 232, 252, 310, 

313, 328 
Enos 467 
George 295 
Guy, Jr. 537 
James H. 519, .529 
John 72, 92, 99, 100, 199, 

293, 482 
Jonathan 467 
Kimball 443, 467 
Mehitable 407 
Micah 467 
Nathaniel 3-13 
Nehemiah 274, 275 
Oliver 635 
Peter 241, 313, 348, 334, 

389, 410, 411, 567, 569 
Phineas 374, 39.3, 395, 400 
410, 419, 428, 429, 4.30, 
433, 460, 462, 467, 486 
Prudence 414 
Richard 310 
Thomas 293 
Stephen 407 
Games, Rev. Jihn 368 
Carr, Francis "8.3, 441, 467, 662 
George 49 
James 300 
Carrick, John E. 313 
Carter, Ezra 270 
Joshua 028 
Carver, Nath.'iniel 470 
Case, William 389, 397, 410 
Cast, or Kast, Dr. 348 
Castle Jacob 389 
Castleng, John 343 
Cesar (Negro) 639, 000 
Celia (Negro) 241 
Celly, Samuel 349 
Chadwick, James 142, 143, 467 

Mr. 489 
Challis, or Chalice, David 358 
Gideon 343, 345, 358 
Left. 101 
Chambers, William 311 
Chamberlain, John 202, 487 
Silas 416 
William 407 
Chandler, Rev. John 53 
Josiah 313 
Thomas 97 
Chase, Abncr 279, 313, 321 

Abraham 311, 314, 625 
Aquila 624, 625 
Amos 467, 333 
Anthony 407, 410, 414, 
418, 419, 467, 535, 536, 
579, 625 
Benjamin 470 
Charles 623 
Charles D. 626 
Charles T. 626 
& Cogswell 533 



Chase, Daniel 467, 625 
David 48.3, 625 
Deacon 243 
Eben 534 
Ebenezer 349 
Edmund 400 
Elbridge W. 526, 663 
Ephraim 385, 467 
Ezra ■ 313, 328, 349, 381, 
385, 399, 404, 403, 407, 
408, 410, 414, 419 
Frederick H. 626 
George W. 191, 529, 530, 

623, 626, 557, 663 
Humphrey 314, 321, 328 
Isaac 347, 351 
Jacob 313, 321, 625 
James 327, 413, 418, 410, 

407 569 
John 314, 321, 338, 467, 

623 
Joseph 467, 625, 636, 637 
Joshua 467, 625 
Josiah 407 
Leonard 385, 467 
Moody 473 
Moses M. 601 
Moses 623 
Nathaniel 315, 328 
Phillip 625 
Robert 625 
Samuel 334, 534, 533, 536, 

309 
Simeon 623 
Stephen 623 
Tappan 515, 316, 535, 537 

582, 003, 623, 626 
Thomas N. 321 
Thomas 025 
W. D. S. 521, 394, 662 
William 347, 408,467, 594 

623, 020 
Woodman 407, 474, 625 
Chenarie, Chcnary, 

John 71, 72, 77, 256 
Cheney, John 382 

Thomas 311, 314 
Checkley, Rev. Samuel 220, 247 
Chiney, Daniel 383 

Nathaniel 383 
Chickering, John 467 
Chipman, John 248 
Choate, John 331, 507 
Christv, or Christie, Mr. 298 
Peter 311 
Thomas 311 
Church, Noah 30r. 
Clapp, Benjamin 429 ' 

Clark, or Clarke, Aaron 572 

Edward 72, 77, 78, 80, 143 

230, 268, 274, 275 
Ephraim 232 
Hanniel 208, 268, 275 
John 400 
Jonathan 232, 232 
Moses .342 

Nathaniel 348, 414, 418, 
• 424, 407 
Samuel 208, 470 
Stephen. 398 
Timothy 208 
Rev; W. C. 612, 613 
Rev. AV. T. 562 
Clay, Henry 636 
Jonas 353 



via 



/K 



Clement, or Clements, 256 * 
Abiah 232 
Amos 393, 467 
Benjamin 160, 814, 329, 

348, 380, 388, 410, 414, 

467 
Christopher 389 
David 275, 318, 356 
Hannah 265 

James 341, 395, 397, 411 
Jeremiah 275 
Jesse 160, 306 
Job 38, 45, 48. 57, 58, 60, 

67, 68, 69, 70, 72, 76, 77 

80, 90, 106, 141, 237, 

268,269, 5481 
John 48, 60, 70,'71, 72, 77 

86, 90, 92, 94, 103, 328, 

243, 256, 264, 269, 275, 

302, 213, 314, 349, 351, 

467, 661 
Moses 242, 243, 313, 327, 

329, 330, 346, 348, 274, 

380, 404, 435, 467 
Nathaniel 2:?2, 274, 275, 

315, 329, 349, 351 
Ohadiah 311, 314 
Peter 347 

-llobert 47, 48, 60, 62, 65, 
8, 70, 72, 76, 77, 80, 84, 

90, 110, 121, 133, 138, 

256, 661 
Ruth 265 
SamvicI 239. 275, 312, 315 

329, 347, 348, 384, 467, 

631 
Timothy 341, 348, 354 
^Villiam 352, 355, 357, 359 
Clifford, Daniel 353 
Clough, or Clugh, Daniel 512 
Jethrew 343, 345 
Mr. 3C6 
Jonathan 152 
Cobnrn, or Cobovn, 13cnoni 353 

Jonathan 208, 311 
Cod, Phillip 198 
Cobbett, Rp.v. Thomas 97, 115 
Cockle, John 392 
Coffin, 256 

Admiral 52 
Alex. G. 51 
Charles 582, 625 
Pilbrick 340, 384 
George 658 
James 49 
John 49 
Joseph 486 
• Mr. 106 

Narcissa B. 51 

Peter 49, 70, 80 

Robert 217 

Tristram 45, 47, 49, 60, 72 

80 
William 227 
Cogswell, Francis 620 
George 487. 598 
John 242. 313, 318, .327, 

334. 347, 348, 393, 419, 

428, 407, 659 
Joseph 318 
Nathaniel 242, 313, 318, 

333, 347, 016, 626, 659, 

600 
Thomas 371, 374. 381, 
389, 393, 428, 430, 467, 
494, 626 



Cogswell, Rev. W. 583 
Coker, Joseph 118 
Colby, Colbey, or Colbie, 

Anthony 235, 238, 270, 

279, .321, 548 
Daniel 382, 383 
Ednnind 353 
Ebenezer 313, 321, 328, 

349, 381, 385 
Elizabeth 407 
Ephraim 407 
Isaac 94, 313, 321, 349, 

300 
Jonathan 353 
Nii-holas 480, 491 
Philbrook 341, 342, 343, 

;-!45, 351, 352, 357 
Richard 313, 321, 350, 

300, 578 
Samuel 93, 112 
Theophelous 349 
■William 35.5, 356, 360 
Cole, Benjamin 480 

Rev. Charles H. 613 
Eliph 396 
Timothy 593 
Colly, Nathan 353 
Comings, Rev. E. J. 603, 005 
Compton, William 100 
Connelly, Christopher 343, 345 
Cook, benjamin 467 
Ezra 355 
Elisha 645 
James 31.5, 348, 357 
John 374 

William 352, 357, 358, 
360, 384, 389, 96 
Coon, John 342. 343 345 
Copp Aaron ?5 !, 548 
• David .311. 353 
. JoHiah .311, 314 
■ Moses 311 
Corliss, Corly, or Collv. 
Ch^u-les 628, 658 
Daniel .355 
Ephraim 74, 467, 627, 028 

602 
George 58, GO, 02, 67, 72. 
77. SO. 106. 1"8. 186. 
256 266, 348. 627, 628 
John 128, 138, 315. 329, 
232, 242. 315, 329, 467, 
627 
John S.. 348, 355. 418, 

419, 467 
Jonathan 487 
Joseph :il5. 348. 428, 627 
Joshu.-. 341, 349 
Mary 2:2 
Stephen 470 
Thomas 31.5. .329 
Corser, Samuel 358 
Thomas 358 
Cosset. Rev. Rana 609 
Cottle, Ezra 347. 356 
Levi 360 
Thomas S21, 325, 323, 350 

407, 491 
William 467 
Cotton, Rev. Eolland 109. 248 - 
Cousins. Isa.ac. 75, 77, 79 
Cox, John 417 
Craige. George 390 
Cranch, William 429 
Crawford, or Craflbrd, 
Thomas 311, 353 



Crawley. 126 
Cronnid, Samuel 348 
Crosby, Stephen S. 583 
Cross, or Crosse. 

Rev. Abijah 573, 574, 575, 

655 
John 43, 237 
Peter 122 
Stephen 347, 850 
William 237 . -• 
Crowell, Calvin W. 540 
James ."^.99 
John 514, 597 
Johathan 540. 662 
Lieut. 419 
i^amuel 3.55 
Currier, Amos 341' 249. 414 

Asa 351, 382, 383, 388, 

397 
Caleb 313, 821, 349, 851, 

3.52 
D. 323 

Elizabeth 2'8 
Franklin, 516 
John 173, 238, 810 
Jonathan 467 
Joseph ;^97, 410 
Nathaniel 536, 537 
Reuben 302, 313, 321, 828 

333, 349, 350, 351, 419, 

4 5, 467 
Richard 385 
Samuel 93, 164, 171, 172. 

173, 212. 238, 252, 315, 

34 '. 845 
Willibee 516 
Curtis, Asa 353 
Curwin, Samuel 486 
Gushing, Rev. Caleb 30.3, ?99, 

407, 440, 563, 665 
Calebs 486 
Daniel 136 
Rev. James 303, 563, 564, 

583 
Rev. James R. 582, 583, 

662 
Rev. Jeremiah 136, 138, 

1.39 
Rev. Jonathiin 245, 246 
Mr. 816, 317 
Mrs. Anna 407 
Peter : 96 
Thomas 423 
"W illiara 648 

Dalton. Isaac .318 

John 225 

Samuel 94, 1,36. 161. 172 

Stephen 133 

Tristram 423, 650 
Damon. Rev. Mr. 577, 598 
Dana, 248 

Rev. Mr. 574 

Samuel 040 
Danford. John 214 
Dantorth, Jonathan 102, 104, 122 

Samuel 244 
Davis. Amos 24,3, 249, 351, 407 

Beniamin 276, .321. 356 

Charles 382. 383, 388, 391 
397, 410, 53.5, .536 

Daniel 31.3, :'.27 

Elhridge G, 516 

Ephraim 80 92, 115. 235, 
274. 276. 313. 821 

Elisha 173, 225, 252, 551 



Davis, Ezekiel 242 
Henry 580 
James, Sen. 60. 62, 77 

88, 106, 138, 256 
James 38, .'iO, o+, 63, 72 
80. 91, 141, 243, 252, 
2.56, 467, 662 
James, Jr., 60. 6.5. 72, 77, 

80, 88. 93, 106, 110 
Jeremiah 408 
John 54, 60, 62, 71, 72 
74, 77, 80, 106, 14o, 256 
v 31.3, 314, 349, 389, 391, 

\ 397. 39S, 420, 460, 486. 

632, 661 
Joseph 54, 80, 93, 94, 274 

276 
Joshua 637 
]\Ir. 223 
Moses 313, 328 
Robert 276, 313, 433 
fiamuel 93, 235. 268, 274 
276, 31:^, 321, 329, 349 
Stephen 143, 235 
Thomas 47, 52, 54, 60, 62, 
63, 70, 72, 77, 80, 83, 
88, 94, 106, 111, 138, 
143, 256, 276 
William 661 
William N. 576 
Davison, Thomas 311 
Davy, Humphrey 661 
Dawen, 278 
Day, William & Co. 
Deacon, Edward 307 
Deale, William 92 
Dearborn, C. C 656 
Delaware, 0. H. J?. 516 
Dennis, Moses 396 
Denuisoii, Maj. Gen. 97, 103, 124 
Rev. John 109 
John 103 
Dike, Edward R. 516, 603 
Dimond, .John 242 
Thomas 313 
Dinah (Negro) 241 
Dinsmore, Francis 356, 388, 414 
Dix, James 385 
Dodge, Ephraim 393 
David 313 
Joseph 386, 395, 428, 435 

467, 556 
Rev. Joshua 429, 488, 494 
558, 559 
Donalds, Reuben 396 
Dow, 354 

Abigail 238 
Benjamin 359 
Daniel 389 
Isaac 347, 350 
James 353 
Jeremiah 353 
John 156, 174, 256, 264, 
311,314,318.342, 382, 
383,388,392,393, 397 
502. 558 
Joseph 329 
Moses 428 
Peter 311, 314 
Polly 483 
Richard 353 
Ruth 2.38 
Samuel 235, 313 
Stephen 03. 142, 143, 156, 
157, 164, 166, 174, 198, 
238, 268, .314, 353 I 



Dow, Thomas 80, 82 

Timothy, 311, 314 
Downes, B. R. 610 
Downing, John 384, 393, 470 

Moses 390, 397, 411 
Downer, John 418 
Dresser,- N. P. 516 
Draper, Adam 235 
Dudley, George 650 

Paul 291, 
Dummer, Richard 65 
Rev. Shubal 39 
Duncan, Abraham 628 
George 452, 628 
Grant 396 
John 623 

James 69, 338, 348, 386, 

393, 395, 404, 428, 451 

452, 467, 490, 494, 553, 

588, 628, 632 

James, Jr. 374, 428, 451 

452, 470 
James H. 429, 4"6, 494, 
501, 504, 507, 509, 521, 
52,3, 536, 542, 609, 638 
661, 662, 663 
Mrs. James H. 501 
Robert 628 
Samuel 374, 393, 623 
Samuel W. 156, 168, 429 

486. 488, 489. 628 
Mrs. Samuel W. 309 
Samuel B. 628 
William 628 
Durgan, Benjamin 356 

James 306 
Duston, Dustin, or Durstan 
Abigail 232 
Caleb 319 
Charles 197 
David 467 

Dudley 382, 388, 395 
Ebenezer 400 
Hannah 152, 185, 187, 192 

197, 308, 658 
James 353 
John 311, 313, 658 
Jonathan 196, 265, 311, 
315, 329, 331, 340, 341, 
848, 382, 383, 388, 393, 
410, 65S " 
Joshua 347 
Josiah 194 
Mrs. Lucia H. 191 
Moses 356, 360 
Nathaniel 197, 235, 315 
348,351, 389,467,658' 
Obadiah .319 
Rachel 407 
Samuel 314, 319 
Stephen 393 

Thomas 94, 128, 138, 18.5, 
192, 19-3, 194, 195, 196, 
200, 236. 313, 319. 328 
329, 469, 482, 630, 618 
Timothy 658 
& Treat 467 
Dwight, Dr. 193, 459, 461 
Dyer, Christopher 626 



Eastman or Easman, 253 
Capt. 333 

Ebenezer 254, 257, 266 
274, 276. 278, 283, 289,' 
696 
Ephraim 476 

85 



Eastman, Jeremiah 276 
John 346 
Joseph 276 
Jonathan 235, 269 
Moses 276 ■ 
Nathaniel 276 
Obadiah 276 
Peter 311 ; 
Phillip 94, 125, 128, 138, 

254, 276 
Roger 276 
Sarah 198 
Thomas 94, 128 
William 34 
Easterbrooks Hannah 467 

Samuel 349 
Eames, Capt. 432 

Daniel 407, 440 
Moses 342, 347 
Samuel 347, 350, 407, 408 

430, 407 
Theodore 630 
Earwin, Joseph 311, 314 
Eaton or Eatton, Rev. Asa 609 
Amos 418, 420, 467 
Benjamin 348 
David 341, 347, 354, 356 
Deacon 336 
Ebenezer 2.32, 266 
Elbridge G. 528, 597, 662 
Elijah 470 
■ Enoch 382, 383 
Hannah 238 
Isaiah 382, 38.3, 388 
James 315, 329, 349 
Job 235 
John Sen., 106, 272, 313, 

348 
John 60, 72, 77, 80, 88, 92 
173. 2.35, 239, 256, 265, 
315, 328, 382, 383, 388, 
391, 393, 433, 550 
Jonathan 173, 231, 233, 

315, 349 
Joseph 348, 410, 414, 415, 

417, 418, 419, 467 
Judith 230 
Moses 313, 321, 329, 341 

349 
Nathaniel 356, 358, 382 

383, 388, 491, 414 
Phineas 467 
Peter 630 
Rebeccah 467, 470 
Robert W. 487 
S. 224 

Samuel 312, 314, 565 
Timothy 147, 313, 321, 
329, 334, 348, 372, 874, 
377,380, 381, 399, 404, 
405, 410, 414, 417, 419, 
420, 467, 569, 580 
Thomas 52, 72, 80, 164 
168, 173, 198, 208, 256, 
257, 208, 315, 328 
Ward 473 
Edes, Benjamin Jr., 459, 652 
Edwards, Rev. Dr. 49§. 

& Harding 537 , • 
John 31.3, .329, .349 
Nathaniel 31.3, 349 
William 419, 470, 636 
Ela, Daniel .52, 88, 92, 106. 122 
131, 134, 138, 140, 14l! 
143, 173, 174, 175,, 238 
26.5, 313, 321, 328' 



Ela, Israel 313, 321, 328 

Jacob 275, 313, 328, 385, 

418, 419, 420, 467 
John 232, 235, 238, 313, 

380, 381, 418, 419, 420 
Jonathan 385, 467 
Samuel 232, 313, 321, 329 

349, 382, 383, 388, 407, 

408 . 
Elexander, Sartle 416 
Elkins, Joseph 396 
Elliott, or Eliot, 

Ephraim 380, 393, 419, 

467, 581 
Rev. John 96 
Thomas 467 
Emerson, Abraham 467 
Amos 349 
Beniamiu 174, 237, 311, 

499, 548, 659 
Beniamin 2d 515, 516, 535 

603 
Daniel 467 
David 204, 311, 314 
Elezer 349 
Elizabeth 145 
Ephraim 311, 314 
Ithamar 315, 327, 330, 342 

349, 414, 467 
Jabesh 314, 659 
James 341, 343, 345, 346, 

343, 349, 354, 355, 358, 

360, 388 
James H. 429 
Jeremiah 418, 419 

John 315. .329, 342, 346, 
349, 418, 467 

Jonathan 156, 174, 188, 

206, 215, 223, 231, 236, 

315, 329, 345, 348, 351, 

419, 541, 548, 567, 630 
Joseph 52, 149, 174. 235, 

237, 303, 314, 315, 329, 
342, 346, 348, 351, 358, 
360, 382, 383, 388, 391, 
417,418, 419, 548 
Josiah 345, 349, 418, 467 
Luther 522 
Mark 347, 382. 389 
Mehitebal (widow) 314 
Michael 52, 86, 92, 122, 
IHO, 138, 145, 1P4, 174, 
192, 208, 315, 329, 348, 
418, 630, 658 
Moses 382, 383, 388, 389, 

392, 400, 467, 630 
Moses E. 510 
Nathan 486, 630 
Nathaniel 122, 232, 486 
Nehemiah222, 223, 229. 
314, 347, 384,393, 418, 

420, 424, 429, 467, 470, 
543. 630 

Obadiah 315 

Orenzo T. 526 ' 

Tcter 315, 348, 355, 382, 

383, 388, 418, 419, 5j9 
Phillip 353, 357 
Kichard 313, 327, 330, 347 

356 
Robert 52, 94, 115, 116, 

137, 140, 195, 311, 314 
Ruth 41 8 
Samuel 164, 235, 315, 329 

382, 383, 630 



Emerson, Stephen 274, 276, 311, 

315 

Susannah 467 

Thomas 198 

Timothv 198, 311, 314, 
315, 329, 348, 351, 467, 
541,567 

Toothaker W. 348 

Webster 355, 358 ' 

William 341 

& Webt 536 
Emery, Benjamin 357 536 

Caleb 353 

Ephraim 429, 467 

Humphrey 311 

John 79, 158, 348, 407, 
467 

Jonathan 311 

Joshua 315, 348, 349, 382, 
383, 388, 417, 418, 419 

Moses 468 

Noah 353 
Endicott, John 27, 143 
Evans, David 593, 606 
Fales, Rev. T. F. 610 
Farley, George 129 
Farmer, William 352 
Farnsworth, Rev. Thomas G. 

574, 596, 655, 662 
Farnham, Barachias 328, 337 

Douglass 592 

James 407 

John 347 
Farnnum, David 348, 352, 354, 
356 

John 430 

Roswell 536 

William 350, 356 
Farrar, Kimball 537 
Farwell, Rev. Asa 575 

J. H. 656 
Favor, John 39, 45, 72 
Fay, Aaron 358 

Galen H. 4?9, 652 
Felt, Joseph B. 556 
Ferren, Alpheus 396 
Fessenden, Josiah 383 

Moses 428 
Finney, Rev. Geo. W. 604 
Fiske, James 60, 64, 71, 72, 74, 
77, 80, 256 

Rev. 246 
Firman, Gyles 35 
Fitch, Rev. Charles 516, 604 
Fitts & Roberts 530 

D. F. 602 
Fitz, Nathaniel 470 
Flags, Joseph 3471 
Flanders, Joseph 516 

William 353 
Fletcher, Rev. C. 595 
Fling, Peter 341 
Flint, or Flynt, Edward 300, 313 

324, 327, 332 
Flood, Daniel 353 

Richard 311 

Silas 343, 344, 353 
Folsom, Rev. N. P. 562 
FoUonsbee, John 480, 534 

Thcjuias 30n. 312, 314 

William 313 
Foot, Enoch 062 

John 355 

Nathaniel 516 

Bowel 347 



Foot, Samnel 184 
Ford, James 174 

Mary 160 

Robert 94, 138, 155, 311 

Robert, Jr. 52, 264, 268 

Samuel 143, 155 
Foss, John 4S0 
Forsh, Askebell 311 
Foster, Abrel 313 

Asa 592 

Isaac 346 

John 353 

Jonathan 408 

Oliver 470 

Phineas 264 

Samuel 342, 343, 345, 
347, 354, 416 
Foules, Benjamin 347, 352, 355, 

357 
Fowler, Benjamin 350 

Mr. 276 
Franklin, Jonathan 165 
French, John 312, 314 

Jonathan 557 

Moses 534 

Nathaniel 300 

Sampson 352, 350, 357 

Sampson, .Ir. 352 
Frink, Andrew 326, 327, 330,486 
496 

John 341, 342, 344, 347 

Jonathan 345 
Frost, Cato (Negro) 396 
Frothingham, E. G. 657 
Frye, James 346. 361, 388, 389, 
390, 392, 623 

William F. 470 
Fuller, J. & N. S. .'■)36 

John S. 597 
Fulsom, (See Folsom) Josiah 347 

Samuel 396 

Samuel B. 410 

Gage. Abel 419 

Alfred 516, 603 
Ebenezer 347. 384, 407, 

428, 468, 662 
Job 331, .347, 359, 382, 

383, 388, 393, 397, 410 
John 313, 324, 827. 353, 

384, 395, 400, 408 
Joseph 353 

Josiah 94. 132, 13.5, 138, 
139, 141, 142, 164, 174, 
208 

Lemuel 388 

:Mr. 453 

Rev. Nathaniel 562 

Samuel 315, 329, 397, 411 

Solomon 358 

Stephen 315, 349 

Thomas 347, 370, 468 
Gale, Benjamin 313, 3i7, 330, 
346, 433 

Daniel 347 

James 501, 502, 654 

Moses 428, 468, 491, 532 

Samuel 347 

Stephen 349 
Gardner, Cipt. 217 

James 535 

Rev. Joshua 232, 234, 241 
244, 256, 547. 548 

Samuel, Jr. 486 
Guy, or Guie, 

William 341, 349, 359 



XI 



&atchell, Ezra 3'9 

Nathaniel :a2, 314 
Gates, Gen. 4U.3, 623 
George, Amos 419, 403 

Austin 341, 347, 407, 468 

David 349, 385 

Gideon 313, 321, 323. 344, 
345, 346, 349, 407, 414, 
578, 648 • 

James 79 

John 238, 313, 321, 328, 
300 
1 John S.418 

Jonathan 347, 330 

Joseph T. 601 

Justin 414 

Lewis 382, 383, 388, 463 

Moses D. 526 

Eichard 468 

Samuel 344, 348, 354, 383 
535, 537 

& Whittier 53« 

William 313, .321, 328, 
348, 349, 356, 487 
Gerrish, Col. 389 

Samuel 341 
Gerry, Gov. 619 
Giddin?, George 43 
Gile, Guile, or Gild, 

Aaron 537 

Asa 342, 343, 34.5, 347, 
350 

Amos 393 468 

Daniel 314 

Ephraim 164, 174, 235, 
263, 347, 548 

Goodman 108 

James 313, 328, 408 

James F. 526 

John 138, 14.3, 171; 347, 
352, 353, 358, 403 

Joseph 208 

Joshua 353 

Mehet.ible 233 

Mr. 258 

Sarah 238 

Samuel 38, 52, 60, 71, 72, 
77, 80, 88, 93, 98, 138, 
256, 313, 328, 347 
Gill, Daniel 312 

Ebenezer 311 

Joseph 311 

Moses 311 
Gilman, Capt. 389, 396 

Jolin 53 

Rev. Josiah 576 

Jno. Jloody 359 

Nath^aiicl 359 
Gilmer, M. 516 
Gilmore, James 311 

Robert 311 

AVil'iam 311 
Gin, (Negro) 241 
Gibson, Gipson, or Jipson, 

Jolin 382, 383, 396, 398, 
. 411 
Girdler, John 636 
Glover, John 403, 408 
Gleason, David 470, 637 

Macajah 389, 391 
Gofte, John 348, 355 
Goldwin, George 72, lOS 
Googins, Mr. 505 
Goodrich or Goodridge 161 

Barnard 468, 490, oM 

John 385, 408, 



Goodrich, Rev. M. 598 

Timothy, Jr., 305, 565 
Gookin, Jlr. 30 
Gorden, Michael 311 
Goss, or Gross, John 348, 355, 

397, 408, 414 
Gould, Francis 652 
William 411 
Graves, Ebenczer 407 
James 311 
Samuel 311 
Graham, John 411 
Gray, Harrison 346 
Great Tom (Indian) 43 
Greelee, Grealy, or Grealey, 

Andrew 99, 100, 106, 111, 

130, 133, 170, 532 
Benjamin 128, 313, 329, 

350, 516 
Joseph 143, 171, 173, 238, 
242, 313, 32 i, 328, 333, 
349, 350, 385, 41 8, 420, 
468, 535, 537, 578, 581 
Gregory, Jonas 122 
Green, David 400 
Ebenezer 344 
Jacob 384, 400 
John 31.3, 329, 393, 463, 

470, 490 
Moses 470 
Nathaniel 314, 653 
Peter 94, 173, 194, 195, 
. 235, 238, 239, 269, 275, 
313, 321, 329, 578, 653 
Greenleaf, Abel 468 
Caleb 46-8 

Daniel 357, 374, 430 
Dorothy 468 
Ebenezer 408 
Edmund 324, 327, 330 
Henry 355 

Samuel 374, 393, 593 
Sarah 470 

William 327, 346, 357, 
307, 374, 375, 380, 393, 
397, 411, 419, 428, 429, 
4:30, 468 
Greenough, Allen 346 

Ebenezer 374, 400, 429 

Moses 369 

Parker 542 

Robert 353 

Sally and Betsy 4G8 

Simeon 390 

Symoods 327, 333, 345 

347 
Thomas M. 486 
William 374, 429, 553, 
653 
Greenwood, Rev. Thomas J. 597 
Gridley, Col. 389, 390 
Griflin, Mr. 217 

Daniel 341, 349, 357, 382, 

383, 388, 392 
Ebenezer 382, 383, 388 
Grimes, Charles G. 536 

James 536 
Griswell, Rev. A. V. 609 
Grosvenor, Rev. M. G. 571 
Gubtal it Haseltine 535 
Guilford, Rev. H. P. 593, 657 
Gatterson, John 237, 252 
Gyles, John 220 

Haddock, Charles .347, 400, 407 
Daniel 429 



Haddock, James 463 
Hadly, Abel 358 

George 352, 335, 357, 338 
Hagar (Negro) 220, 241 
Hale, 429 

Christopher 486 

Ebenezer 320, 327, 330 

Edman 243, 312, 314 
V Enoch 353 
\ Ezekiel 215, 468, 474, 481 
■■.. 482, 480, 499, 506, 510, 
"x 511, 541, 003 

tezekiel, Jr., 516 

E. M. J. 001 

Joseph 348, 355 

James 002 

Saraui^l 486 

Sarah J. 186 

Thomas 60, 63, 65, 68, 71 
72, 73j 70, 83, 106 

William 510 
Hall, Charles 3/j6, 3.58 

Charles B. 662 

John 347 

Joseph 407 

Nathaniel 347 

Prince 240 

Thomas 311 

Samuel 84 
Hammond, A. W. 499 

E. H. 525 
Hamilton, Robert 336 
Hancock, John 423, 619 

William 311, 313, 327 330 
Hanniford, Asa 539 

Zachariah 313, 321, 341, 
338 
Hanson, Elizabeth 153 

Itev. J. W. 599 
Hardy, Daniel 392 

Joseph 385 

Timothy 242, 314, 326 
Harmon, David P. 534 

George O. 516 

James 516 

William 397 

& Kimball 535, 536 
Harding, Isaac 657 

Jesse 429, 471, 482, S34, 
535 

John M. 657 

Thomas 53V, 663 
Harris, or Harrice, Abiel 466 

Benjamin 350 

C. D. 470 

Rev. Edward N. 589 

David 348, 393 

Jonathan 343, 35.5, 393, 
400 

John H. 656 

Rev. J. M. 395 
Harriman, Abner 312, 314 

Edwin .504, 655 

Enoch 419 

Jesse 317 

Joel 347, 350, 3,82, 383, 
407, 414, 415, 419, 420 

John 268, 209, 312, 314 

Jonathan .349, 351 

Joseph 243, 312, 314, 316 

Joshua 243, 314 

Leonard 312, 314 

Matthew 94, 138, 174, 135 
235, 237, 239, 2.52, 268, 
269, 283, 314 

Moses 384, 393, 408 



xu 



Harriman, Page 341, 343, 349 
Kiohard 314, 327 
Siimuel 585 
Simon 407, 40S, 409 
Stephen 314, 3i'7, 347, 348 
Tiustworthj' 414 
■William 397, 411 
Harrod, 176 

Benjamin 242 
James 374 
Joseph 428, 468 
Harrison, Gen. 629 
Hart, Thomas 601 
Haseltine, Amos 545 
Benjamin 313 
Charles 536 
Daniel 345, 346, 349 
Henry 312, 314 
James 315, 329, 348, 351, 

400. 419, 453, 468, 470 
Jeremiah 315, 348, 418, 

419, 420 
John 69, 72, 74, 93, 94, 

116, 128, 135, 138, 155, 

164, 172, 174, 235, 249, 

313, 315, 328, 349, 356, 

468, 548, 549, 661 
Jonathan 313, 341, 345, 

346, 348, 355 
Joseph 315, 328, 342, 345, 

£49, 567 
Ladd 468, 493 
Lydia 417, 420 
Maxe 347 

Moses 382, 383, 388, 417 
Nathan 314, 327, 3H0, 348 
Nathaniel 94, 128, 138, 

155, 170, 174, 237, 315 
Philip 315, 329, 417, 661 
Polly 318 
Eiohard 389, 420^ 
Eobert 69, 74, 84, 86 
Eiith 417, 420 
Samuel 232, 241, 253, 315 

327, 342, 345, 348, 351, 

420 
Sarah 238 
Timothy 313 
"Ward 662 
William 500 
Hassel, Rev. Eoliert 263, 562 
Hartshorn, John 94, 138 
Euth IGO 
Susannah 232 
Thomas 94, 128, 138, 221, 

225 
Hastings, George 313, 321, 328 
John 252, 348, 419 
Levi 414, 416 
Eobert 94, 238, 279, 284, 

313, 321, 349, 577, 578 
"William 653, 654 
Hatch Aroet 533 
Estes 220 

Eev. Leonard B. 593, 594 
Phebe 408 
& Spofford 533 
Haynes, or Haines, Ammi 418 
Amy E. 348, 351 
David 348, 351 
Guy C. 185, 203 
Jonathan 184, 198, 199, 

315, 328, 399 
Haynes, Joseph 184, 198, 201, 242 

315, 338, 348, 351, 372, 

379, 380, 404, 468, 567, 

568 



Hayes. Mary 184 
Moses 535 
Perly 398, 411 
Phineas 545 
Eev. Mr. 303 
Thomas 184, 271, 315 327 
333, 400, 468, 565, 666, 
567 
Hayes, Thomas M. 519 
& Peniberton 5y7 
Hazzen, Hannah 265 

John 242, 316, 317, 353 
Moses 53, 243, 264, 274, 
276, 303. 313, 329, 332, 
342, 343, 345, 348 
Gen. Moses 53, 623, 640 
Eichard 173, 253, 261, 
265 267, 271, 274, 
276, 289, 291, 292, 294, 
296, 298, 299, 313, 316, 
327, 330, 333, 513, 551, 
661 
Sarah 265 
Head, John L. 516 
Heath, Bartholomew 52, 60, 71, 
72, 73, 74, 77, 80, 88, 93 
100, 213, 256, 266, 312, 
314 
Benjamin 311 
Caleb 311 
Daniel 348 
David 300, 311, 359 
Enoch 416 
Goodman 106 
Hannah 238 
James 237, 268, 311 
John 80, 88, 94, 115, 200, 
213, 235, 269, 276, 311, 
312, 314 
Joseph 174, 237, 312, 314, 

548 
Joshua 352, 357 
Josiah 94, 200, 235. 237, 

268, 312, 314, 353, 548 
Mr. 273 
Nathaniel 311 
Nehemiah 274, 276, 312, 

314 
Eichard 311 

Samuel 312, 314, 389, 537 
.' 590 

Bylvanus 347, 355 
Bttphtn 342 

William 264, 312, 314, 
■ 353 
Hendrick, Abraham 160 
Israel 156, 164 
Jonathan 12S, 235 
Jotham 138, 17;i, 208, 239 

214 
Daniel 52, 60, 72, 75, 77. 
• 80,83, 106, 143,256661 
Hertel of Chambly 224 
Henry, Patrick 379 
Henshaw Joshua 411 
Herrick, Daniel 313 
Hersey, Caleb 521, 535, 537,653, 
&34, 662 
& Whittier 537 
Houston, Heuston, or Huston, 
John 313 

John A & Co. 541 
"William 410 
Heivlt, Rev. Mr. 498 
Heyward, Oliver 221 
Hibbard, Daniel 356 



Hyde, James 342, 345 

Hills, Daniel 384, 393, 418, 419 

Georce W. 470 

Eev. Stephen P. 589 

Nathaniel 429 
Hilton, Benjamin 315 
Hind, John i21 
Hinkley, Eev. Fredrick 562 

John 327, 
Hobson, Daniel 534, 536 
Hodge, Capt. 342 
Hogg, Hog, or Hoag 

John 311 

Joseph 51 

Samuel 343 

William 311 ^ 
Hogkins. John 31 
Holdridge, "William 72, 77,' 256 
Holgate, James 313, 321 
Holt, Joseph 155 

Nicholas 99 
Hollaway 410 
Hopkins, 516 

Thomas 395, 410 
Hopewell (Indian) 241 
Horsford, Rev. Benj. F. 600, 612 
Horner, Thomas 311 
Hovey, Mr. 009 

J. 484 

E. P. 486 
How, Howe, Calvin "W. 486 

David 391, 429, 460, 46?, 
490, 512, 533, 540, 588, 
631, 632, 633, 634, 662 

David W. 631 

Isanc 468, 540, 541, 542 

Isaac E. 429, 498, 501, 
634, 650, 654 

Mrs. I. R. 501 

Isaiah 199 

James 429, 631 

Jacob 062 

Moses 344 

Nathl S. 661 

Phineas 540, 543 

Sarah 588 

& Mitchell 542 
Howard, Benjamin 343, 344, 345 

John 313 

Joshua 317, 347 
Hoyt, Hoitl, or Hoight, 

Daniel 635 

George H. 528 

Jabez 353 

John 71, 72, 184 

Moses 468 

"William 342, 343, 345, 
353, 480, 537 
Hewlett, Ensign 65 
Hubbard, D;ivid 408 

Eev. Ml-. 108 
Hudson, James 430 
Hull, John 128 
Humphrey, Eev. Edward 595 
Huukings, or Hnnkins, 

Benjamin 352, 357, 358 

Caleb D. 661 

David 408 

Hannah 420 

John 311 

Jonathan 385, 468 

Eobert 235, 238, 279, 313, 
321, 329, .349 

Thomas 313, 321, 349 
Hunt, Jonathan 353 



xm 



Hunt, Samnel 313 
Huse, Capt. 474 

John 348, 420, 468 
Stephen 313, 327, 330, 348 
Hussey, Christopher 38, 60, 72 
Hutchins, or Hutohings, 
BeDJamin 174 
David 313 
Hezekiah 344 
I Jeremiah 348, 509 

I John 02, 72, 79, 83, 87, 99 

106, 118, 208, 235, 241, 
250, 397, 410, 411 " 
Jonathan 311 
-.^ Joseph 94, 138, 208, 223, 
315, 328, :-o4, 357, 507 
Nathan 315 
Eobert 243 

Samuel 94, 128, 132, 138, 
104, 174, 208, 235, 252, 
315, 061 
Thomas 119 
Willi;mi 348, 355, 356 
Hutchinson, Elisha 516 
Lt. Gov. 301, 370 

Ingalls, Eltlad 315 

Elias T. 499 

Henry 341, 408 

Timothy 343 

& Johnson 536 
Ingerfiekl, John 342, 345 

Peter 342, 345, 347 
IngersoII, Rev. Ira 571 

John 480 

Zebnlum 470 
Ingraham, Josiah 358 

Jack (Negro) 358 
Jackm->n, Moses 312, 314 

Samuel 407 
Jackson, Major 442, 447 

Stephen 382, 383, 393 
Jacques, A. B, 432, 404 

John 349, 358 

Stephen 247, 281 
Jarvis, Wm 035 
JefllTS, John 349 
Jekyll, John 045 
Jeuueson, Matthew 389 
Jenness, Cornelius 510, 537 
Jennings, Rev. John 595 
Jenny (Negro) 242 
Jewett, Joseph 74, 80, 88, 256, 
257 

Stephen 649 

Sewell E. 516 
Jipson, John 300, 398 
Johnson, Allan M. 030 

Andrew 539, 507, 636 

Beniamin 408, 030 

Charles 317 

Charles E. 036 

Cornelius 314, 329, 346 

Daniel 243, 313, 314, 328, 
346, 349, 380, 407, 408, 
414, 415, 420, 474, 496, 
679, 635, 630 

Elias 358, 410, 418, 419, 
420, 468, 579, 581, 583, 
630 

Enoch 348 

Freilriek G'.O 

Frederick W. 030 

George 036 



Johnson, George Hazen 636 

Hannah 210, 025, 635, 636 

Hazen W. 030 

Herbert M. 036 

J. Henry 516 

James T. 636 

John 72, 88, 92, 94, 107, 
128, 137, 143, 158, 164, 
172, 174, 221, 225, 228, 
250, 257, 270, 314, 323, 
308, 410, 429, 468, 469, 
470, 484, 485, 495, 018, 
625, 034, O^iO, 001 

Jonathan 210, 312, 314 

Joseph 72, 02, 94, 106, 138 
164. 174, 237, 304, 393, 
396, 548, 002, 035, 636 

Leonard 537, 636 

Maverick 313, 329, 349, 
419, 635 

Michael 311, 317 

Moses 636 

Nathaniel 268, 209, 312, 
314, 329, 347, 350, 468, 
635, 6 ;0 

Nathan 582, 583, 036, 637 

Peter 343, 346, 418, 420, 
636 

Samuel 813, 327, 347, 399, 
597, 035, 030, 002 

Samuel M. 486 

Sarah 238 (Sally) 590 

Seth 242, 349, 418, 419, 
420, 030 

Stephen 2o5, 311 

Susannah 409 

Thomas 225, 235, 237, 
238, 252, 313, 314, 317, 
328, 408, 483, 548, 583, 
635, 630 

Timothy 274, 276, 310, 
340, 351, 353, K57, 358, 
382, 383, 388, 391, 407, 
413, 414, 415, 418, 420, 
440, 035, 630 

Washington 88, 516, 637 

William 174, 231, 235, 253 
208, 302, 310, 314, 330, 
415, 420, 034, 035, 037 

William P. 036 

Zacariah 311 

& George 
John (Indian) 43, 297 
Jones, Abner 500, 503 

Joshua 410 

Josiah 306 
Jose, Richard 411 
Judith, (Negro) 243 
Judson, A. .Ir. 012, 643 
Kancamagus (Indian) 31 
K.eeley, Rev. George 332, 4'i9, 
458, 409, 588, 589, 662 
Josiah 521 

Chase & Co. 536 
Kelcy, Alexander 311 
Kelly, or Kellev, 

John & Co. 536 

Joseph 279, 313, 321, 329, 
349, 380, 407, 414, 469, 
578 

Langley 407. 408 

Richard 305, 349 
Kendrick, or Kenrick, 490 

Aimer 408 

Daniel 374 



Kendrick, John 468 
Kendall, Asaph 470, 596 

Rev. S. E. 575 
Kcnniston, John 126 
Kent, Jeremiah 353 

John 311 

Justin 429, 468 

Richard 273 

Stephen 70, 72, 70, 77, 78, 
80, 81, 88, 119, 256 
Kezar, Kezer, or Keyzar, 

Ebenezar 313 

George 198 

John 121, 128, 139, 142, 
101, 172, 173, 311, 313, 
315, 348, 417, 420 

Moses, 393, 398, 410 

Timothy 347, 350, 355, 408 
Kimball, A. L. 057 

Abigail 108 

Abner 313, 327, 333, 385, 
308, 410 

Abraham 313, 327, 330, 
345 

Benjamin 153, 408 

Betsey 590 

Charles O. 499 

Cotton 384, 400, 468 

David 350, 468 
* David C. 571 

Ebenezer 352, 354, 35t 

Edmund 407, 537 

Eliphalet 499 

Hazen 487 

Hermon 516 

Henry 128, 133 

Jabez 420 

James 348, 383, 384, 388, 
380, 399, 407, 408 

John 125, 108, 275, 470 

Jonathan 311, 353, 357, 
414, 408 

Joseph 125, 357, 480 

Joshua 309 

Mary (widow) 312, 314 

Moses- 408, 480 

Rev. Moses 035 

Nathan 408 

Nathan S. 063 

Nathaniel 3S0, 393 

Phinehas 433 

Richard 261, 308, 410, 414 
418, 439, 408, 535, 536 

Samuel 313, 314, 393 

Solomon 408 

Thomas 125, 254 

Timothv 354, 358, 359 

William 343 
Kingsbury, Col. 344 

Ephraim 134, 151 

Henry 53, 110 

James 94 

John 94 

Joseph 94, 132, 138, 174, 
200 

Samuel 138 

Thomas 128, 155, 174, 193 
200 
Kinnicum, Askebell 311 
Kittredge, Alfred 500, 504, 521, 
601, 052 

Cato 300 

Thomas .303 
Knapp, John 3>50 
Knight, Abicl 341 



XIV 



Knight John 138 

Nathaniel 311 

Richard 353, Soi 
Knowltou, Capt. 390 

I'rancis 353 

Nathaniel 313, 32G, 327, 
330 

Samuel 353 

Knowles, Eufus K. 537 
Lacount, or Leacount, 

James 348, 353 

Moses 398, -110 

Samuel 393, 409 
La Chasse 260 
Ladd, or Lad, 539, 541 

Abigail 232 

Asa 349 

Daniel, Sen., 93, 94, 138, 
315 

Daniel 38, 48, 60, 62, 68, 
72, 74, 77, 89, 93, 94, 
96, 124, 12S, 235, 256, 
315, 328, 329, 348, 349, 
355, 357, 548, 567, 661 

Dilly 318 
_ E. 459, 652 

Dudley 347, 400, 468, 553 

Ezekiel 138, 317, 347 

Goodman 106 

Heman 375 

John 232, 252, 269 315 328 

Natiianiel 128, 160, 468 

Samuel 94, 128, 145, 164, 
199, 201 

Timothy 313 

William 348, 351, 410, 
418, 419 
Laferty, James 416 
Lake, Kphvaim E. 486 

Joseph 470 

Joshua 580, 636 

Oliver P. 535 
Lamhard, Rev. Mr. 571 
Lamson, William 374. 468 
Lamout, William 89, 393 
Langdon, Rev. Mr.- 390 
Laneeton, Roger 100 
Lawrence, Rev Edw. A. 600 
Lawson, Christopher 72 
Lear, Mr. 442, 447 
Lebeter, Henry 347 
Leach, Benjamin 347 
Lee, George W. 536 

John 4 11 
Le Bosquet, Caleb 429, 470, 499, 

539, 662 
Lenardson, Samuel 190 
Leonards, James 650 

Lemuel 662 

Nathaniel 650 
Levett, Daniel 359 

Sarah 414 
Leverett, Rev. 246 
Levi (Negro) 241 
Lewis, Rev. Wales 583 
Lindall, 226 
Linforth, Thomas 72, 77, 88, 256 

Little, Bond 333 

Rev. Daniel 316 

Daniel '03, 311, 316, 549 

Ezekiel 318 

George 311 

Joseph 511 

Moses 355 



Little, Samuel 311 

Thomas 313 

William 470 
Littlehale, John 117, 123 

Richard 38, 55, 00, 67, 72, 
77, 80, 106, 250 
Long, Benjamin 396 

Richard 109 
Loring, William P. 486 
Lovell, John 279 
Lovewell, Capt, 263 

John 353 

Joseph 333 
Lovejoy, Henry 433 
Lovekins, Samuel 349 
Longley, Rufus 429, 460, 521, 
635, 6-17 

Mrs. Rufus 501, 518 
Loughlar, John 410 
Low, Hannah 468 
Lowger, Jonathan 382, 383, 398, 

400 
Lufkin, Jonathan 313 
Lull, Moses 541 

Macy, Thomas 80 
Mansise, Cornelius 3 17, 389, 394, 
427, 428, 429, 430 
Hannah 40.3 
Simon 400, 428, 463 
Mansfield, Col. 389 
Mansur J. W. 500 
Maine, Rev. Amos 53 
Mather Rev. Increase 97 

Rev. Cotton 37, 186, 247 
Marble, Caleb 353 
Enoch 348 
John 315, 329, 349, 417, 

590, 591 
Jonathan 315, 339 
Nathaniel 283, 315 
Samuel 269, 315, 396 
Marsden, George 375, 383 
Mariah (Negro) 241 
Marland, G39 
Marsh, or Mash, 

Abigail 418, 496 
Cutting, 347, 428, 433468 

6;!8 
David 313, 3'^8, 346. 348, 
374, 393, 400, 418, 419, 
420, 428, 429, 468, 549, 
638, 639, 661 
Deacon 269 

Enoch 347, 353, 374, 381, 
393, 395, 400, 419, 420, 
4», 468, 532, 638 
Ephraini 315, 328, 638 
George 638 
Hezekiah 359 
James 639 
John 155, 174, 235, 429, 

548, 349,571,638, 639 
Jonath.an 217. 313, .328, 

349, 351, 578, 638, 639 
Lvdia 496 
Moses 347, .350, 429, 440, 

468, 470, 638 
Nathaniel 347, 374, 37.5, 
393. 394, 393. 400, 407, 
412, 414, 428, 430, 433, 
433, 440, 408, 471, 539, 
541, 62,3, 638, 639, 662 
Onesiphorus 138. 149, 153 
164, 174, 188,638 



Marsh, Samuel 639 

Thomas 160, 638 

& Hutchinson 536 
Marshall, Henry 358 

Mr. 516 
Martin, Rev. Job H. 600, 603, 
603, 604 

Oliver 470 

Robert 410 

Truman M. 516, 663 
Mason, Rev. L. B. 598 

John 280 
Massey, Barthol. 416 
Maverick, Elias 88, 634: 

John 633 

Samuel 239 
Maxfield, Elipha. 359 

Henry 357, 339 
May, Rev. Mr. 505 
Mayhew, Nathaniel 470 
McCurdy, John 345, 346 

Roberd 311 
MoCasling, John 347 
McCafee, Daniel, ill 

Hugh, 311 

John 311 
McCaster, John 311 
MeDurmid, Hugh 396 
McDonnell, Rev. John T. 603 
Mci'arten, James 311 

Paul 311 
McEarland, James 0. 463 

Moses 380, 391, 396, 403 

Nathaniel 389 
McHard, James 243, 243, 309, 
313, 327, 330, 338, 347, 
374, 428, 430, 433, 468 
McMaster, William 311 
McNiel, Rev. Wm. .599 
Mclvissich, John 3.39 
McQuesten. Daniel P. 662 
McWhite, Thomas 396 
Mead, Mr. 570 
Meady, Thomas 534, 596 
Mercer. Abiel 173, 269 

Richard 116 
Mercy, (Negro) 243 
Merrill, or Merriel 

Mr. 594 

Abell 232 

David 317, 349, 353, 357 

Rev. Giles 407, 442, 44.5, 
468, 564, 639 

Isaac 386 

Israel 347, 350, 351 • 

James 386 

James 0. 639 

John 274, 276 

Jonathan 277, 311 

J. B. 540 

Joseph 265, 315, 323 

Moses, 188, 192, 196, 276, 
342, 343, 344, 345, 349 

Nathan 313, 340 

Nathaniel 232, 268, 276, 
311, 31.3, 548, 551 

Ruth (Widow) 315 

S.amuel 264, 348, 371, 380, 
381, 393, 399, 404, 405, 
407, 410, 414, 415, 416, 
418, 419,-420, 441, 408 

Sarah 232 

Thomas 276, 348 

Rev. W. P. 593 

William 521 



Merrie, Daniel 329 

Joseph 38, 60. 106 
Merrick, Josepli 486 
Merritt, Rev. D. N. 604, 605 
Messe"-, Massar, or Mercer, 
Abiall 252, 263 
Leonard 486 
Thomas 2o3 
Timothy 313 
MiUer, John 311 
' Stephen 344, 346 

Rev. William 511, 604 
Mills, Samuel J. 642 

James 311 

Milliken, See Mullikin. 

Daniel 350 

John 394, 399, 412, 415, 
42S 
Middleton, Peter 359, 393, 395, 
408 
Samuel 345, 847, 350, 352 
354, 357, 359, 360, 384, 
393, 393, 410. 440 
Wiliam 341, 342, 345, 347 
Mingo, Thomas 314 
Minot, George 040 

Stephen 429, 639, 662 
Mirick, B. L. 502 
Mitchell, Mr. 310 
Abigail 232 

Andrew 23.5, 269, 31.5, 327 
Bradley .349, 351, 407 
Daniel 399 
Eben 541 
Kbenezer 348, 419 
George 269 
James 315 
John 315, 348, 351, 404, 

419. 575 
Jonathan 323 
Marv 232 
Philip 315 
Samuel G. 382 
William 264, 315, 328, 
348 
Mogg, (Indian) 126 
Moice, Goodman 72 
Montgomery, J. P. 516. 537 
Moody, Abigail 468, 470 

Benjamin 314, 398, 410 
Cutting 594 
David 359 
Elisha 347, 3.50, 3.55 
Humphry 398, 410, 644 
Moses 414, 408, 470 
Moses B. 558, 559, 629 
Nathaniel 398, 410 
Rev. 246 
William 644 
Morley, Mr. 333 
Morgan, Moses 314 
Mooers, or Mores, 

Amrairahama 347 
Benjamin 347, 374, 395, 
41)1), 428, 429, 468, 553, 
640, 041 
Capt. 389, 391 
David 385, 393 
Daniel 340. 347 
Edmund 320, 327, 330, 
34<X 342, 343, 345, 354, 
,357, 358. 428 
Edward 347 
John 398,416 
Jonathan 468 
Joseph 353 



Mooers, Moses .398 

William 3.56 

Morrill, Francis 383 

Micajah 353 

Morrison, Mr. 276 

Bradbury 313, 341 
Daniel 349, 351 
Holbert 311 
John 313, 321, 329 
Samuel 349 
Morse, David 470 

Hazea 402, 662 
Henry 349, 351, 46S 
Isaac 499 
Jedidiah 463 
John 350, 593, 606 
Rev. John B. 597 
Joseph 352, 396, 502 
Moses 429 
Oliver 463 
Rev. Stephen 571 
William 242, 243, 313, 407 
& Fox 483 
Morrill, Abraham 72 
Is.aac 158, 3.50 
Moulton, Nathaniel 356 
Mullikin, or MuUican, 232 
John 348 
Joseph 314, 440 
Susannah 470 
Mullin, Robert 468 
Muzzee, John 311 

Nanamacomuck, 31 

Neff, Mary 186. 308, 309. 658 

William 93, 138, 186 
NeUon, Jlr. 42 

Jin 111 than 389 
Phillip 389 
Nesmith, John 486 
Newcomb, Capt. Jesse 156, 503 

Thomas 480 
Newell, David Jr. 347 

Harriet 460, 041, 642, 643, 
Rev. Sam'l 642, 643 644 
Newmarsh, 223 
Nichols, Abel 592 
Daniel 414 
David 309, 32.5, 389 
Dorothy 408 
Francis J. 608 
Rev. Henry M. 574, 576 
Humphree 382, 383 
Jacob 347, 469 
John B. 577, 625. 636, 662 
Joseph 350 
J. R. 519 
Phineas 323, 385, 435, 468 

594 
Moses 219, 559 
Mosos & Co. 536 
Nicholson, Gov. 653 
Niles, Rev. Asa 595 
Nimock, James 315 
Nixon, John 344, 3G0, 586 
Nott, Samuel Jr., 642 
Noyes, Eliphalet 470, 534 

Follansbee .309, 418, 468 

Goodman 106 

Ir.a 504, 597 

James 83, 534, 335, 536 

Josiah 463 

Rev. Nathaniel 568 

Parker 408 

Samuel 486 



XV 

Noyes, Thomas 101, 122, 213, 
220, 261 
Timothv 311 
W. H. 5'l6 
& Dunbar 513 

Old Will, (Indian) 43, 71, 97, 

143 
Oliphant, Rev. David 563 
Ordway, or Ordiway, 

Benjamin 348, 885, 399, 

415, 418, 419, 469 
Edward 235, 315, 329, 348 
357, 381, 404, 414, 415, 
469 
Joseph Hill 348 
Rev. Nehemiah 385, 580 
Samuel 341, 349 
& Websttr 537 
Ormsby, Richard 72, 77 
Osgood, Abigail 469 
Hannah 470 

Isaac 33S, 348, 895, 412, 
427, 428, 441, 451, 452, 
552, 635, 662 
John 65, 90, 99, 350, 351, 

352, 354 

Joshua B. 374, 624 

. Peter 429, 452 409, 535 

Timothy 428, 443 

William 120, 353 

Osillaway, Joseph 345, 352, 357, 

358 
Otterson, William 312 
Otis, James 362 

Packard, Rev. Dr. 610 
Padington, Joshua 2:^5 
Page, Abel ;<49, 419, 536 

Abraham 2)8, 239, 269, 
313, 321, 328 

Amos 349, 419 

Beniamin 9:<, 173, 235, 

238, 321, 662 
Caleb :ai, 469 
Cornelius 17.?, 277, 313 
Daniel "Q^, 410 
Dorcas 409 
Ebenezer 217 
Edmund 311, 318 
Elij>hlet 311 

Ezekiel 31', 321 
John 52, 62. 138, 139. 142 
143, 164, 173, 174, 238, 

239, 256, 38.5, 418, 661 
John Jr. 72, 93, 173, 235, 

277, 356 
John C. 469 
Jonathan 311, 318, 345 
Jeremiah 261, 313 
« Joseph 94, 174, 213, 217, 

208, 274, 277, 311, 388, 

409 
Joshua 311, ol3, :i27, 330. 

342 
Lewis 31.3, ,^21, 328, .M9, 
Mich.iel 352, 357, 358 
Nathan 340. 342, 'Mi, 345 
Nathaniel 274, 277, 313, 

.321 
Obediah 352 
Oliver .342, 343. .345, 353, 

359, 389, 398, 411 
Parker 424 • 
Peter 349 



XTl 



Page, Samuel 349, 385, 420 

Solomon 344 

Stephen 35:5 

Thomas 274, 277, 315, 329 
424, 567 

Timothy 311, 345, 353 

William 348 349 351 352 
357 385 

& Kimball 535 
Paine, Mr. 42 

Palmer, Henrv 38. 60, 63, 65, 67, 
70, 72, 77, 80, 83, 85, 88 
94, 106, 114, 137, 256, 
615, 661 

James 593 

John E. 590, 592 

Joseph 313 

J. U. 657 

Timothy 459 
Parker, Mr. 577 

Rev. Benjamin 242, 350, 
555, 578, 579, 580 

Daniel 398, 410 

Elias 590 

Gideon 344 

Q-ihnan 505, 661 

James 112, 343, 

John 101, 121, 122 

Eev. L. S. 605, 606 

Leonard 516 

Moses 360 

Eev. 250 

Samuel 131, 159, 241 

Timothy 343, 344 
Parmlee, Alfred S. 516 
Parsons, Eev 246 

Eev. Joseph 246, 549 

Moses 428 
Partridge, John 349 
Passaquo, 47 

Passaconnaway, 30, 42, 46 
Pattee, Patie, Pettee, 

Benjamin 315 

John 317, 319 

Peter 130, 143, 170, 171, 
284, 310 

Eich.ird 311 

Samuel 2.32 

Seth 310 
Patten, Joseph 327, 330 
Patterson, Samuel 311 
Paugus, (Indian) 262 
Payson, Jonathan 428, 442, 445 

Joseph 460 
Peabody, Rev. Andrew P. 561 

Joseph 469 
' Nathan 382, 383, 388 398 

Nathaniel 410 

Oliver 374 

Eev. Stephen 3I8, 461. , 
556 
Pearl, Cyril 657 
Pearsons, Ebenezer 616 

James yli, 321, 323, 326, 
357 

James, Jr. ZlS, 346 

Jonathan 343 
Peaslee, or Pcaslcy 

Abigail 265 

Amos 242, 313, .328 

David 384, 389, 396, 398, 
399, 410 

Goodman 106 

Jonathan 238, 389 



Joseph 60, 62, 71, 72, 77, 
80, 94, 143, 145, 156 164 
171, 173, 176, 204, 206, 
215, 239, 256, 274, 644 

Nathaniel 53. 156, 239, 
255, 265, 267, 271, 274, 
277, 289, 307, 313, 321, 

326, h28, 333, 334, 338 
348, 615, 644, 648, 661 

Eobert 235, 243, 274, 277, 

313, 356 . 
Samuel 328 
Sarah 232 
Susannah 265 
Pecker, Mr. 309 
Ann 252 
Bartholomew 74, 341, 342, 

343, 345, a54, 389, 393, 

447 
Daniel 470 
Doctor 395 
James 73, 77, 92, 93, 103, 

121, 251, 267, 274, 277, 

289, 326, 327, 330, 348, 

389, 393, 398, 407, 408, 

548 
Jeremiah 74, 274, 277 
John 74, 274, 277, 313, 

327, 329, 330, 232 
Ruth 469, 
Samuel 155 
William f98, 411 

& Brickett 536 
Peckham, Re\'. Samuel H. 564 
Pell, James 400 

John 355 

Sanmel 416 

William 341 
Pemberton, Dr. 557 
Perkins, Baithl. 347 
Perlej', Pareley, or Pearly, 

Daniel S. 435 

David ..93 

Jonathan 384 

Nathan 3iS 
Perry, Ephiaim 342 

Francis .359 

Joshua 342, 343, 351, 355, 
358 

Ob.idiah 310, 331 

Rev. Mr. 499, 505, 571 

Thomas 77 

Rev. WiUiam S. 608 

William 343 

William W. .359 
Peter, (Negro) 243i 

Indian 125 

Mr. 184 
Pettingall, Benjamin 312, 314, 
396 

Jed. diah 409 

Matthew 469, 480 . 
Phersen, Nathaniel :il4 
Phelps, Rev. Dudley 499, 559, 

560, 5011. 655 
Philbrick, John 516 
Phillip, (Indian) 123 
Phillips, Re\-. George 650 

Rev. Sanmei 53 

Samuel :i85, 660 
Phipps, Sir William 161- 
Phillis (Negro) 241, 242, 248 
Pike, Charles 487 

Ueugh 311, 314,414 



Pike, James 328, 388, 892, 410, 
415, 418, 419, 420, 469 

Joseph 169, 405 

Eobert 80 ' 

Simeon 382, 383, 388, 391 
Pierce, Abraham 247 

Charles 396 

Joshua 345 

Samuel 347 

Em^^rson & Co. 536 
Pillsburv, 242 

Chase 410 

Edmund 342, 343, 345, 
347 

Samuel 594 
Pitt, William 346 
Plummer, Asa 469 

Frederick 591, .592 

Eev. Henry 592, 593, 606, 
607 

John 591, 617, 639 

Silas 470, 590 

Samuel 516 

Thomas 469 591 
Plant, Rev. Mathias 280, 620 
Pollard, Amos G53 

Barton 341 

John 312, 314 
Pomfret, Rev. James E. 576, 

598 
Pomeroy, Rev. Ur. .571 
Pomp, (Negro) 241 
I oplin. Capt. 389 
Pope, Thomas 311 
Poor, Ecniamin 347 

Daniel 311 

John 469 

Thomas 302 
Porter, Dudley 429 

Ebenezer 400 

Eleazer A. 46, 486 

Henry 429 

Moses 396 
Potter, Henry 590, 592 
Powers, David 389 
Prentice, George D. 656 
Prescott, Stephen 353 

William .390, 631, 634, 
647 
Preston, John 185 
Presson, Ton at ban 344 
Pressey, or Presley, 

Benjamin o98, 411 

James 256, 257. 

John 340, 342, 343, 345 

& Fletcher 537 
Price, Capt. 217 

William S. 411 
Prince (Negro) 248 
Putman, Ebenezer 467 

Gen. 390, 392, 631 

Oliver 429, 469 

Quimby. Mrs. 126 

Daniel 408 

Rev. Mr. 598 
Quincy, Edm\ind 293 
Quint, Rev. A. M. 612 

Ealle, Father 260, 261 
Eand, Samuel 389, 592 
Randall, Benjamin 618 
Rawson, Edward 385 
Reddel, Robert 311 
Redington, Daniel 347 



Redlngton, Isaac 371, 372 878 
380, 381, 393, 395, 40o! 
404,407,^13,417, 428 
632 
Nathaniel 347, 350 
Reed, James 416 
Eeinhart, E. AV. 654 
Eemington, John 02, 106, 110 
Eemick, Remock, 
I Daniel 389, 393, 396 

' David 415, 430 

James 382 
Samuel 398, 410 
Eenes, Samuel 398 
Rewy, John 232 
Richards, Benjamin 311 

Joseph 398, 411 
Eichardsou, James 342 
Eev. James 562 
Parish 353 
William 353 

Winslow 347, 352, 355, 
357 
Eichmond, Rev. J. C. 609 
Bicker, Lewis 342 
Eideout, Rowland 313 
Rix, James 352, 357, 388, 393 

395, 398, 410 
Eindge, John 292 
Eogers, Dnniel 650 
W. E. P. 657 
Roberts, Daniel 343 

Ephraim 164, 174, 232, 

235, 236, 237, 247, 548 
Hannah 313 
Jonathan 243, 312, 314 
Oliver H. 593 
Samuel 232, 235 
Robie, or Eoby 

Ichabod 160 
John 94, 128, 138, 160 
Robinson, Ebenezer 592, 593 
Ephraim 418, 419, 420 
John 38, 45, 60, 68, 72, 

74, 106 
Joseph 385, 469 
Rogers, D. D. 372, 374, 380, 395 
428 
Hannah 469 
Hope 232 
Robert 346 
Thomas 118 
Rolfe, Rev. Benjamin 154. 160, 
162, 165, 168, 171, 207, 
208, 219, 225, 228, 232, 
241, 547, 548 
Ezra 94, 153 
Henry 67 
Nathaniel 310, 327, 330 

348, 371 
William 382 
Eouville, Hertel de 212 
Rollins, John 469 
Rowe, Jacob 398, 410 

John 359 
Rowell, Benoni 353 
Elias 398, 411 
Jacob 288 
Phillip 313 
Eowlandson, Rev. Mr. 189 

Mary 152 
Ruggles, Timothy 346 
Runniels, David 347 

Hannah 469, 470 
Stephen 382. 38-', 392 893 
541 
Russ, Thomas 659 
William 470 



Russell, Ebenezer 347 
Edward 347, 350 
James 342, 343 S44 "45 
347, 663 ' ■ ' 

John 310, 348, 469 470 
Samuel 535, 637 ' 

Ryland, John 588 

Saggahew, 47 
Saltonstall, Anna 588 
Doctor 489 
Gurdon 48, 109, 645 
John 48 

Leverett 377, 429, 454 
461, 469, 497, 502. 628' 
630, 645, 347 
Nathaniel 47, 48, 99, 106 
109, 112, 114, 184, 137' 
150,156,158,160, 164 
168. 173, 174, 175, 176* 
199, 204, 213, 217 230 
233. 235, 284, 374 40a' 
588, 639, 645. 646,' 647' 
650, 661 ' 

Richard 48, 108, 129 143 
204, 208, 241, 242 "89' 
292, 302, 304, 309,' Sls! 
329,330,3.32,342 344 
345, 346, 348, 351, 354,' 
363, 375. 377. 378, 550 
556, 565, 645, 646, 647 
661 ' 

William 645 
Safford, Fhen H. 655, ^656 
Salter & Co. 474 
Salem (Negro) 243 
Sanborn, Sloses 356, 360 
Sanclare, George 313 
Samuel (Indian) 116 
Sanders, or Saunders, 
Abigail 420 * 
Amos 540 -' 
Avery 277, 349 -- 
Benjamin 349 
Bradbury 343 
Henry 232, 239, 252, 268 

2G9, 300 
Jacob 313, 321, 327, 330, 

350 
James 94, 164, 173, 174 
207, 238, 239, 245, 252! 
265, 271, 277, 279, 313, 
321, 329, 661 
John 238, 243, 252 267 
270; 274, 277, 279, 313 
320, 327, 330, 349, 351 
382, 383, 388, 661 
Jonathan 274, 277 
Lemuel 388 
Nathaniel 274, 277 313 

327, 330, 349, 661 
Peter 347 
Rachel 265 
Ruth 418, 420 
Samuel 349, 382, 383, 420 
469 
Santeler, George 321 
Sargent, or Sargeant, 
Aaron 350 
Amos 470 
A. A. 526 
Barnard 385 
Charles 382 
Chase 383, 388 
Rev. Christopher 273, 644 

648 
Edwin A. 516 
Elias 420, 469 

68 



XVll 

Sargent, Henry 34D 

Jonathan 341, 347, 354 

393, 396, 428 
Mary 469 

Nathaniel P. 300, 367 

380, 386, 404, 413, 417* 

422,428,441,454, 644* 

648, 662 

Reuben 359, 382, 3S3, 388 

392 
Samuel 279, 345, 349, 416 
Thomas 407, 408, 416 
William 396 
Zebediah 342, 343, 345 
Zebulon 156 
Satchwell. TheopTiilus 74 76 
77, 80, S8, 141, 256 ' 
Savory, William 498 
Savage, Henry 60, 62, 72, 77 106 

James 107 
Sawyer, Abner 353 
Amos 470 
Edward 388 

James 347, 381, 382, 383 
338, 391, 3C9, 407, 430' 
John 242, 313, 327, 333 
347, 371, 374, 395, 405 
410, 414, 419, 420, 423. 
436 
Jonathan 347, 384, 407 
Joseph 353 

Joshua 327, 337, 348, 469 
Nathan 156 
Oliver 346 
Paul .396 
William 382, 383, 388 391 

399, 415, 469 
Wyded 637 
& Cross 474 
Scales, Oliver 331 
Scammon, Col. 391 

James 73, 352, 357, 359 
416, 430 
Seaver, Rev. Nicholas 231 
Seeley, Rev. R. H. 612 
Senter, Levi 407, 408 
Sewall, Henrv 281 

Judge 281 
Seymour, Rev. Charles H. 610 
Shatswell, Theophilus 75 79 39 

91 (See Satchwell)' 
Shackford, Samuel 347 
Shaw, Edward 354 

Rev. John 318, 429, 445 
555, 556, 557, 559, 650 
Roger 83 
William S. 556 
Sbay, Daniel 437 
Shepard, Gen. 437 
John 235 
Jonathan 313, 347, 848 

393, 399 
Ruth 420 

Samuel 138, 143, 346, 347. 
348, 393, 399 
Sherratt, Hugh 39. 45, 47, 52 
60, 64. 71, 72, 74, 77, 88 
196, 256< 
Shirley, Gov. William 321 
Shirgley, Rev. J. 598 
Short, Henry 81 
Shute,Gov. 258 

Jacob=^274, 278 
John 278 
Sibley, Jacob 648 
Samuel 223 
Silliway, Joseph 3 9, 354 

Reuben 4lo 



xvin 



Silver, 222 

Abraham iOS 

Daniel 331, 409 

James 343 

John 232, 315, 348, 082, 
470 

Jcnathm 408 

Jcseph 343, 414 

Saniuol 348 

Thomas 232 

Zebadiah 414 
Simons, Abic^ail 232 

Elizabeth 2.2 

Goodman 87 

Hannah 238 

James 347 

John 174, 237, 313, 487 

Jonathan 235, 313, 327, 
330, 346, 347, 408 

Nathan 313 

Eichard 347, 354, 357, 359 

Samuel 130, 138, 313 

Sarah 469 

"William 87, 88, 90, 256 
Simonds, Jesse 537, 663 

Jonathan 348. 356 

Moses 408, 414 

Nathan 217, 223. 235 347 

Nehemiah 408, 415, 469 
Simson, James 469 
Simeon (Indian) 116, 125 
Singletery, Amos 94, 128, 164, 
17.3, 661 

Benjamin 94. 128, 143 

Nathaniel 94, 153 

Richard 72, 80, 256 
Skinner, 565 

Rev. Otis 597 
Slackman, Robert 382 
Sleeper, Thomas 89, 256, 257 
Slocomb, Rufus 528, 535, 536 

601 
Smiley, David 407. 408, 649 

Francis 311, 314, 407, 408 

Heugh 311, 314, 389 

James 382, 383, 389, 396. 
470, 662 

John 311, 314, 327, 330. 
347 

Mar3'460 
Smith, Abigail 407 

Benjamin 310 

Rev. Daniel D. 573, 574 

Kleazer 341, 617, 626 

Rev. Elias 590, 592 

Hezekiah (RW.JlS*, 339 
422, 429. 432, 461, 464, 
469, 579, 584, 586 

Jesse 662 

John 311, 315, 329, 348, 
396, 407, 417, 419, |469, 
669 *■ 

Jonathan K. 429, 498 

Jonathan 470 

Joseph 356 

J. B. 522 

Moses 347 

M. H. (Rev.) 597 

Mrs. 219, 225 

Nathaniel 93, 2.35, 312, 
342, 345 

Peter 486 

Rebecca 501 

Samuel 174, 236, 252,261 
208, 312, 313, 314, 321 

Eimu 3S9 



Smith, Rev. Thomas 250, 461 

Thomas 310 

Timothy 349 

William 232, 396, 308, 
470 

Walker 419, 469 
Snow. Isaac 347, 380, 381, 393. 
390, 404, 405, 410, 418, 
419 

James 382, 383, 388 

John 279 

Joseph 407, 408, 400 
Soley, Mathew 74, 348 

Nathan 416 

Nathaniel 408, 414, 469, 
480 
Souther, Elbridge 537 

John 400 

Jonathan 469. -471 

S.-imuel 24.3, 371, 395, 400 
428, 469 
Southridge. William 460 
Spaulding, Rev. Willard576 
Sparhawk, Nathaniel 428 
Spear, Thomas 348 
Spiller, Joseph B. 155, 433, 458, 
516, 5.33 

Samuel & Son 537 
Spoiford, Dr. 460, 656, 657 

Moody 459 

Paul 533, 5.34 

& Tilestou 053 

& Hiirris 636 
Sprague, Joseph E. 635 
Springer, Henry 304, 313, 324, 
327, 382. 388 

Jonathan 313 

Joshua 347, 352 

Joseph 354, 358 

Solomon 347 
Stanton, Rev. Robert 245, 246 
Stanley, or Standley, 

Benjamin 203, 548 

Matthew 315 

Samuel 315 
Stanford, John 411 
Stanwood, Phillip 313 
Staniel, Anthony 65 ' • 

Stark, Caleb 429 
Starbuck, Nathaniel 51 
Starlin, or Starling, 

Josiah 160 

William 140 143. 164 195 
Staples, Samuel .341, 398, 410 
Stebbins, Charles H. 176 

Mrs. 69 
Stcdman, Mr. 238 
Steere, Rev. M. J. .576 
Stephens, Aaron 237, 269 

John 237. 

Moses 268 
Stevens, Anna 433 

Benjamin 271, 274 

Ephraim 469 

Rev. John H. 582 

John 31, 174, 235, 268 311 
526 

Jonathan 311, 312, 314, 
353 

Joseph 311 

Joshua 237 

Josiah 396 

Moses 312, ,<?14 

Nehemiah 311 

Othro311j 

Samuel 311 



V 



Stevens, Wait 311 

William 311 

& Co. 516 
Steward, John 314, 315, 347, 348 

3.54 
Stiekncy, Jeremiah 347, 3,50, 382 
396, 400, 470, 486 

Mrs. Jeremiah 518 

John 393 

Jonathan 

IVloses 342, 344, 345 

Samuel 355. 

Thomas 428 
Stimson, John 311 
Stone, Benjamin 312, 314, 353 

Ezekiel 357 

Thomas 331, 351 

Stockbridge, John 94, 136, 160 
Stuart, or Stewart, 

Richard 08, 207 

Robert 662 

Samuel 358, 516 
Straw, Benjamin 396 

John ,347, 398,410' 

Sherbon 469 
Swaddock, John 93 
Swan, 222 

Asa 254 

Francis 460, 582 

John 215 

Joshua 237, 252, 268, 271 

Richard 254 

Robert 72, 80, 85, SB, 100, 

106,118, 122, 128, 1.32. 

138, 139, 143, 164, 160, 

237, 238, 244, 256, 661 

Swasey, Moses 417. 418, 420, 469 

William 186, 627 

Swett, or Sweet, Abraham 374, 

395, 429, 469 

Col. 392 

John 236, 243, 248, 243. 
'.^79, 283, 313, 321, 323. 
338 

Joseph 79 

Thomas 358 

Timothy 349 

William 486 
Swonten, William 242, 348 
Symouda, John 348 

Mark 015 
Symmcs, Dr. 554 

Kev. Zachariah 110, 246 

Taggart. John 3P6 

William 521, 655. 663 
Tailer, John 428 
Tappan, Rev. 246, 580 
Tarbox, John 353 
Talent, Hugh 309 
Tenney, Rev. Charles 503, 365 

John 593, 635 
Terrell, Jetise 360 
Thayer, A. W. 498, 499. 502. 
505, 600, 654, 655, 656 
Thaxter, John 428, 628 
Thomas, .John 398, 399, 410 

William 118 
Thompson, Edward 313 

E. C. & Co. 510 

Isaac 411, 469 

Paul 374 

Samuel 341 

Thomas 344, 346 

William 53, 180 



ZIX 



Thornton, John 410 
Tileston, Thumas 534, 653 
Tilton, J. C. 530 
Titcomb, Col. 399 
Tindle, Nilcs '469 
Toil, Francis 396 
Toney, Robert 313 
Tomlinson, John 293 
Tompkins, Christopher 661 
I Eev. Isaac 580, 581, 582, 

) 583 

Townsend, James 382, 383, 388, 
392, 393 

William 314, 341, 486 
Tozier, E. S. 516 
Tracy, John 387 
Train, Rev. A. S. 589, 530 
Trask, Mr. 326 
True, Eev. Einry 316 
Truel, Samuel 416 
Trumbull, John 486 
Trussel, Moses 311 
Tucker, Asa 350 

Dr. 554 

Ezra 347 

Ichabod 429, 469, 647 

Moses 311 

Nathaniel 312, 314 

Leonard 311 
Tufts, Mr. 20S 

Eev. 246 
Turner, Major 217 
Tuttle, Samuel 615 ---^ 
Tyler, Abraham 38, 60, 72, 77, 
80, 256 

Barnaby 470 

Daniel 393, 396 

Dean 429 

Dudley 242, 243, 396, 419 

Goodman 106 

Job 243, 419, 469, 535 

John;^82, 388, 392, 393, 
396, 410 

Jonathan 321 

Joseph 313, 321, 328 

Theodore 393, 396, 408 

Thomas 382, 383, 388 396 
Tyng, Edward 300 

Underbill, John 487 
Upham, Charles W. 525 
Uran, 345 
Urine, Jonathan 346, 355' 

Varnon, Baracrah 315 
Varnum, John 429, 628, «49 654 

661 
Vercheres 224 
Vines, Eichard 33 

Wackfarlee, Nathaniel 311 
Wadleigh, L. C. 539, 663 
Wade, Nathaniel 408 
"VVakciield, Joseph 393 
Wainwright, Col. 254 

Francis 137, 229 

Eev. Dr. 609 

John 137, 229, 289 

Mary 225 

Simeon 137, 142, 143, 156 
169, 174, 175, 208, 222, 
225, 228, 229 
Wftldron. Richard 645 
Wales, Ebenezer 538 



Walker, James .^84, 428, 470, 

512 
Nathaniel 2.50, 313, 327, 

330, 347, 367, 371, 374, 

414, 415, 428, 430, 469, 

660 
R. ft. 382, 586 
Samuel 393, 400, 419, 428 

455, 457, 469, 470, 471 
Timothy, Jr. 433 
Wallace, John 380 
Walton, Col. 260 
Waldon, Major 127 
Ward, James 58 

Eev. John 35, 36, 38, 39, 

40, 47,^8, 53, 55, 58, 60 

63, 70, 72, 77, 84, 88, 91 

99, 100, 108, 110. 133, 

137, ] 54. 165, 258, 548, 

651 
Nathaniel 36, 38, 40, 55 
Wannalancet, 30 
Warren, Gen. 392 

James 378, 395 
Washington, George 441, 442, 

443, 444, 445, 446. 447. 

448, 458, 471, 630 
Wasse, Thomas 91, 116 
Watson, George 469. 645 
Watts, Elizabeth 232 
Jesse 396 

-John 235, 311, 315,'^333 

Samuel 128, 155, 232, 315 

348, 351, 356 
Webb, David 470 
Webster, Dr 554 
Abigail 418 
Benjamin 131 
Caleb 470 
Daniel 575, 576 
David 419, 476, 490, 540, 

542, 571, 575 
Eben 155, 315. 349, 382. 

408,4 
Enos 349 

Grant 318, 326, 327,330 
Isaac 349, 470 
Isaiah 535 
Israel 79, 118, 311 
James 348. 358. 417, 419. 

420 
John 76, 79, SO, 155. 235. 

269, 311. 428, 470 
John S. 537 
Jonathan 243, 315, 326, 

.327, 330, 347, 348, 351, 

372, 373, 379, 380, 381, 

386, 387, 404, 410, 417. 

420, 428, 469, 539, 541, 

569, 661, 662 
Joshua 469 
Joseph 353, 382, 383, 470, 

487, 541, 572, 576 
Moses 336, 349, 419, 469, 

569, 572, 573, 574, 576 
Nathaniel 315, 320, 355 
Nathan 79, 252, 269, 291, 

303, : 15, 329, 333, 334, 

429, 516, 539, 542, 566, 

568, 576, 661, 662 
Peter 349 
Phineas 533, 534 
Samuel 315, 328, 349. 417 



Webster, Stephen 79, 93, 94, 138 
155, 269, 315, 328, 343, 
348, 349, 380,418, 419, 
470, 539, 541, 548, 569. 
570 

Stephen P. 318 

Thomas 3;^. 349. 419, 509 
576 ■— - 

Toothaker 351 

William 311 
Weed, Benjamin 360 

Joshua 469, 480 

Nathaniel 360 
Welch, Ezra B. 575. 576 

Rev. Moses 564 
Welde, Rev. Thomas 58 
Wells, David 359, 469 

John 314 

Joseph 480 

Rev. 216 
Wentworth, John 617 

Gov. 364 
Wescomb Moses 384 

Thomas 331 
West, Henry 429, 469 

Jackson 352, 357, 860 

Mary 469 

Nathaniel 360^ 

Eev. Samuel 581 

Thomas 115, 347, 367 371 
374,381, 393, 394, 404. 
410, 415, 419. 451. 486. 
569 

Wilks 354 
Westcott, Mr. 594 
Weymouth, Edward 123 
Wheeler, Abner 353 

Amos 487 

Eev. Benjamin 568. 611 

Benjamin 311 

John 624 

Jonathan 311 

Eichard K. 537 

Stephen Hll 
White, Charles 46, 429, 494, 603 
662 

David 358 

James 311 

James D. 53 

John 53, 156, 157 164 168 
169, 172, 174, 175, 204, 
206, 208, 215, 232, 242, 
243, 245, 256, 261, 262, 
267, 270, 273, 274, 277, 
313, 347, 358, 360, 386, 
389, 394, 395, 401, 414, 
428, 430, 441, 444, 451, 
469, 470, 548, 549, 553, 
635, 661 

Jonathan 330 

Joseph 353 
>< Leonard 54, 429, 469, 489 
490, 650, 661, 662 

Nicholas 53, 269, 274, 277 
311, 314, 317, 549 

Philip 53 

Samuel 53, 242, 243, 253, 
313, 326, 327, 3^0, P34, 
347, 369, 372, 878, 380, 
419, 427, 4587 4i6, 460, 
469, 553, 585, 632, 663 

Timothy 53, 347, 350, 354 
553 



xz 



,K 



White, William 38, 46, 47, 52 60 

62, 63, 72. 76, 77, 88, 89 
96, 106, 114, 134, 137, 
138,139, 168, 245, 250, 
253, 256, 274, 277, 429, 
468, 549, 628, 650, 661 

Zachariah 198 
Whiting, David 313 

John 313, 393, 469, 552 

Joseph 394 

Jndith 212, 220 

Samuel 347 
Whitefield, Rev. George 249 
Whittier, or Whitcher, 

Rev. Benjamin 517 

Ebenezer 313, 321, 329, 
350 

Elizabeth 314 

Francis 359 

Green 279, 321, 345 

Jacob 389 

James 388 

John 94, 137, 143, 164, 
175, 238, 249, 278, 389, 
393, 395, 407, 408, 410, 
433, 469 

John G. 497, 501, 505 529 
6i36, 062 

Joseph 173, 2?;8, 269, 303 

313, 328, 469 
Leonard 533, 662 
Marvell 343 
Mary 265 
Moses 393, 469 
Moses H. 499 
Mitchel 382, 383 
Nathaniel 155, 171, 849, 

577 

Rev. 246 

Richard 173, 235 

Samuel 315 

Stephen 515 

Thomas 52, 62, 67, 72,74. 
77, 80, 88, 93, 110, 134, 
137, 145, 170, 172, 173, 
207, 235, 252, 256, 257, 

314, 347, 458, 469 
W. R. 521, 534 
Warner 453, 534 
William 232, 252, 269 274 

278, 388, 391 
& George 535 
& Swett 536 
Whittiker, Abraham 93, 118, 161 

179, 198, 235 
Anna 221 
Daniel 311, 328 



Whittiker, David 314. 535 

Hannah 161, 569 

J. 197 

J,ames 382, 383, 407 

Jacob 149, 153 

John 6S7 

Jonathan Sll 

Joseph 197, 200, 347 

Peter 85 ^, 414, 469 

Sarah 547 

Samuel 328, 349 

Stephen 329, 349 

Thomas 124, 347, 349, 350 
407 

William 235, 237,243 265 
2G8, 3J*, 353, 469, 547, 
548 
Whitcomb, Col. 389 
Whittlesev, Rev. Joseph 561 599 

600 
Wier Nathaniel 60 
Wigans, Benoni 356 
Wilcot, Samuel 163 
Wilford, Gilbert 94 
WUIett cfc Co. 460, 632 

Joshua 396 
Wild, William 69 
Wilder, William 74 
Williams, Daniel 315, 841, 342, 
343, 345, 355 

Hart 330 

John 38, 00, 62, 72, 77, 
80, 94, 106, 256, 419, 
615 

Roger 28 
Willis, Benjamin 428,450, 452, 
453, 469, 532, 628, 630, 
662 

Benjamin, Jr. 429, 470 
471, 510 

Rev. Lemuel 576 

Robert 67, 453, 462, 532, 
641 
Wilcomb, Moses 393 

NicoUis 398 
Willard, Jacob 348 

Rev. Joseph 568 
Wilson, Ezekiel 314, 347 

James 382, 383 

Jesse 382, 383 

John 314. 398, 399, 411 

Joseph 314 

William 314 

Rev. W. W. 576 

Rev. John 49 
Wingate, Chai les 609 

John 374, 395, 428 . 



Moses 69, 429, 432, 494, 

662 
Wingate, William 384, 393 
Winn, David 469 
Wise, Mr. 516 

Rev. 246 
Winthrop, John 27, 645 
Withan, Mark 400, 408 
Wood, Ebenezer 349, 351, 400 

Joseph 396 

Nathaniel 353 

Thomas 198, 487 
Woodbridge, Benjamin 168, 651 

John 43, 58, 651 

Joseph 251 
Woodbury, Edward 429 

Rev. Isaac 595 

Hannah 469 

Samuel 581 
Woodin, John 77, 79 
Woodman, Charles T. 517 

Edward 42 

Ensign 268 

John 198, 429, 495, 535 . 
536, 537 

Jonathan 261, 263, 396 

Joshua 93 

Nathaniel 314 

Richard 593 

Samuel 393, :i96 
Woodard, or Woodward, 

E. G. 657 

Jacob 313, 348 

Nathaniel 659 

Stephen 341 
Wooster, Asa 353 

Benjamin 314 

Jonathan 353 
Worthen, Lyman 515 

L. A. C. 537 

Moses 352, 410 

Samuel 237, 209, 311, 312 
314 

Thomas 312, 314, 342 343 
344 
Wright, Abel 353 
Wyman, Jacob 469 

Levi 353 

Seth 382, 383, 388, 392 

Young, Caleb 388 
Israel 314 
John 367 
Joseph >ilO 
Josiah 344, 346 
Robert 353 

Youring, Joseph 407 






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